Kilkenny garda told 'cock and bull story’ by motorist!

A young driver who ‘tried to tell’ a garda ‘a cock and bull story’ about his car insurance has been banned from driving for two years for not having insurance.

Thomas Casey, 1 Clonlong, Southhill, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the charge, before Kilkenny District Court.

Garda Dave Connaughton gave evidence that on March 31 last he observed Mr Casey driving into Kilkenny City from the Freshford direction. He first saw the Volkswagen Passat Mr Casey was driving opposite the entrance to St Luke’s General Hospital.

The garda followed the Passat onto Granges Road then onto Parkview Drive, where Mr Casey stopped.

Garda Connaughton saw Mr Casey get out of the car and start to walk away. He called Mr Casey back, and, the garda said, after a short conversation Mr Casey admitted he did not have insurance.

He failed to produce his driving licence or any insurance documents to a garda station within ten days.

Solicitor Ed Hughes said his client is a very young man, aged 19, and was ‘okay to deal with’ for the garda.

Garda Connaughton said Mr Casey ‘tried to tell me a cock and bull story’ first, but when the garda told him to ‘cop on’ Mr Casey did tell him the truth.
There were six previous convictions recorded against Mr Casey.

Mr Hughes said his client had been driving his girlfriend’s car on the day. Mr Casey has his own insurance policy and he assumed he was covered to drive his girlfriend’s car. However, because he was a Learner driver he was not covered.

Judge Geraldine Carthy pointed out that Mr Casey had admitted to the garda when stopped that he was not insured so did not think he was covered.

Mr Hughes said there was a ‘sense of naivety’ about the offence.

Mr Casey hopes to get married later this year and he is expecting his first child with his partner, Mr Hughes told the court.
Judge Carthy convicted Mr Casey of driving without insurance and disqualified him from driving for two years. A fine of €300 was also handed down.
Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.