A man who travelled to Armagh in a borrowed van to buy a trailer has been handed six penalty points after being caught driving whilst uninsured.
Twenty-seven-year-old Anthony Lavelle, of Ardmore, in Co Mayo, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Court heard the defendant was detected by police driving a Ford Transit van on the Drumconwell Road, Armagh, on August 30 at around 3.25pm.
Defence solicitor Jarlath Fields explained Lavelle had borrowed the van from a friend in order to pick up a trailer from Armagh.
He added the defendant believed himself to be insured through a “block” policy which he thought existed on the vehicle.
Court heard Lavelle worked as a digger driver with much of his time spent in England.
Mr Fields asked that the defendant be given credit for his clear record and early plea, along with the honest belief that he was insured.
District Judge Paul Copeland stated: “I accept that this was a misunderstanding, but you should have checked that out before driving.”
Lavelle was handed six penalty points and ordered to pay a fine of £250, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
