A man found using a false driving licence in Donegal has been fined in court.
Moises De Oliveira appeared before Buncrana District Court.
The 44-year-old, whose address was given as Westend House Apartments, Ardara, was charged with four offences.
An interpreter was present in court to assist the defendant, who was represented by solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher and tendered a guilty plea to all matters.
De Oliveira was charged with having a false instrument, with using a false instrument, driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence.
Inspector Paul Gallagher told the court that gardai stopped a Ford Mondeo being driven by De Oliveira on January 27, 2022 at Glenmore, Welchtown, Ballybofey.
The vehicle was being driven in a “slightly erratic manner”, Inspector Gallagher said.
De Oliveira produced what was purported to be a Portuguese driving licence. Under caution, De Oliveira admitted that the licence was false – and this was later confirmed by the relevant department.
Mr Gallagher said his client, who has no previous convictions, was advised “quite wrongly” to apply to a “certain party” for a licence at a cost of €200.
“He now realises that this was totally wrong,” Mr Gallagher said. “He is from an extremely poor area of central Brazil and he has no intention of going back there.
“He has since applied for the usual permits for driving. He fully accepts his wrong doing.”
Mr Gallagher said his client, a married father-of-four, has since moved to Loughrea and is working to support his family.
On a charge of using a false instrument, the driving licence, De Oliveira was fined 150 and on a charge of having no insurance he was also fined €150.
Judge Ciaran Liddy said he would not impose a driving disqualification on this occasion.
A charge of being in possession of a false instrument was struck out while a charge of driving without a licence was marked as taken into consideration.