Courts / Dublin / Report
Farmer who drove without insurance for sick heifer escapes disqualification
Summary
Richard Coleman, a 29‑year‑old farmer from Drumlattery in Skerries, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty in Balbriggan District Court to driving without insurance on 29 June at Rathmore Road, Lusk. He had been stopped by Garda John Lennon who confirmed he had no insurance cover at that time. Coleman claimed he had paid a premium cheque two days earlier, but the insurance company returned it because the premium was higher than quoted. He did not receive the cheque until 31 June and was stopped before it was returned. Defence solicitor Mary Arnold noted he had taken out new insurance on 1 July. Coleman explained he drove to a vet to obtain antibiotics for a sick heifer, fearing the animal would die otherwise. Judge Dermot Dempsey accepted his explanation, decided not to disqualify him, but warned that as this is his third no‑insurance conviction he will face custody if he commits a similar offence again. He was fined €500.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Farmer who drove without insurance for sick heifer escapes disqualification. Charges or matters: driving without insurance on June 29th at Rathmore Road in Lusk. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 29th Incident
- June 27th Incident
- June 31st Incident
- July 1st Incident
- 2013-12-05 Publication
Why: A FARMER who drove uninsured to a vet because he was worried his sick heifer was going to die has escaped disqualification, under special circumstances. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: driving without insurance on June 29th at Rathmore Road in Lusk (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Coleman, who has ten previous convictions in total, told the court he has had insurance for the past three years but cancelled it as the insurance company wanted another €500 from him after he was initially quoted €1,200. 'I needed to get to the vet for an antibiotic otherwise I would have lost the heifer,' he added. 'I made a mistake.' Judge Dermot Dempsey said under the circumstances he won't disqualify Coleman but warned him that as this is his third no insurance conviction, he will face custody the next time he has no insurance. 'It's custody the next time – no matter what is sick,' said J
Places mentioned
- Balbriggan
- Balbriggan District Court
Topics
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