Kilkenny drivers - Local gardaí won't fall for this ‘familiar bluff’ - and you could end up in court like this man!

An uninsured driver tried to convince a garda that he had insurance ‘in Northern Ireland’ when stopped in Kilkenny City.

James Armour, 108 Assumption Place, Kilkenny, appeared in court charged with driving without insurance and without a licence.

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Garda Andy Neill told the court that on May 20 last he was at Bateman Quay when he checked a white BMW with a UK registration.

The vehicle was ‘sworn off the road’ in the UK and had no valid UK insurance or tax.

Garda Neill spoke to the driver, Mr Armour, and demanded his insurance or certificate of exemption.

Mr Armour told the garda that he had insurance in the UK.

Garda Neill was able to tell the other man that he knew this to be false.

The car was seized.

Mr Armour was ‘extremely difficult’ to deal with, challenging and uncooperative, the garda said.

He had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Chris Hogan asked Garda Neill if it was possible Mr Armour did believe he was insured on the day. The garda said he was not sure how he could have had that belief.

He said it was ‘a familiar bluff’ gardaí come across because people don’t think the gardaí can see UK details.

When Mr Hogan asked if Mr Armour had told the garda he was going to an NCT appointment that day Garda Neill said he checked and there was no appointment made. Mr Armour had been driving into the Dunnes Stores car park, a significant distance from the NCT test centre in Cillin Hill.

Mr Hogan said his client’s insurance had been cancelled because of a difficulty with his health. Because he had moved from Northern Ireland there was a difficulty receiving correspondence from the Northern Ireland Licensing Authority.

Mr Armour was trying to get his car registered and that was why he was going to Cillin Hill that day, Mr Hogan said.
He asked the court not to disqualify his client, who, he said, thought he was insured on the day.

Judge Aine Clancy said the licensing authority ‘don’t just cancel’ insurance and there must have been a reason.
For driving without a licence Mr Armour was fined €250 and a fine of €150 was imposed for not having insurance.