A man facing charges for driving without insurance or a license in Inishowen claimed he was fleeing a criminal gang who had threatened his life.
Seamus Baldrick, of Altcar Park, Derry, pleaded guilty to a no insurance charge and driving without a licence when he appeared before Buncrana District Court.
The 47-year-old defendant represented himself in court after informing Judge Eiteain Cunningham that he didn’t wish to employ the services of a solicitor.
Sergeant Emmet Brady summarised the facts of the case, and how the motoring offences were discovered on the night of Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
He said Garda Mary Dorrian was on mobile patrol at 11pm at Carrownamaddy, Burt on that date when she observed a white Peugeot Expert van, with a 2007 registration, parked along the side of the road. The vehicle was unoccupied at the time but from the windscreen, Garda Dorrian observed that there was no current tax, insurance or NCT certificate displayed.
Whilst Garda Dorrian was in the process of making further enquiries in relation to the vehicle, the owner returned stating that he had been walking his dogs in the nearby fields. He identified himself as the defendant Seamus Baldrick.
Mr Baldrick stated that the vehicle was currently out of test and tax and that he had been getting the steering rack repaired. He said he was insured but he was unable to produce proof of insurance to a Garda Station within ten days after a legal demand was made of him to do so.
“The demand was made but the insurance certificate was not produced,” Sgt Brady explained, adding that the vehicle was detained under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act. The court heard that Mr Baldrick has no previous convictions.
Judge Cunningham asked the defendant whether he wished to address the court in relation to the offences. Mr Baldrick said he “would like to offer some mitigation”.
“It was a very precarious time in my life, as there was a threat made on me,” he said. “I had purchased the vehicle because I was in the process of moving into Donegal for my own safety.”
Mr Baldrick said circumstances, including the pressure he was under, had led him to “take some bad decisions”.
“I regret that and I’m here today to offer this mitigation. There was a criminal gang caught taking the details of my own vehicles and there was a threat made on my life at that time.”
Judge Cunningham asked the defendant whether he required his driving licence and he said he did.
“I ended up losing my licence then but I’m now in the process of getting it back. I have a provisional licence; I haven’t got a full licence at the moment but I am working towards it,” he said.
On the Section 56 no insurance charge, Judge Cunningham issued a €200 fine, with six months to pay. She did not impose a ban.
“I’m not going to disqualify because there are no previous convictions and because of the special circumstances which have been outlined by Mr Baldrick.”
She fined Mr Baldrick a further €100 for driving without a licence, once again allowing the maximum time of six months to pay.