Kilkenny motorist fined and banning from driving for two years

A motorist who refused to give his name and address to gardaí and drove without insurance was disqualified from driving for two years and fined €550.

Derek Brennan, Ballycuddihy, Kilmanagh was convicted of driving without insurance and a valid licence and refusing to give his name and address to gardaí at Kilcreene, Kilkenny on February 6, 2025.

The court heard that on the date in question gardaí were conducting a routine checkpoint and stopped a white Fiat van, been driven by the defendant. Gardaí observed that there were no documents displayed on the windscreen. Gardaí made a lawful demand for documents and the defendant told gardaí that he was ‘exempt’. When asked by gardaí for proof of exemption it replied that it was his ‘sovereign right’.

The defendant also refused to give his name and address and said that ‘it was not garda business’.
Garda Anne Marie O’Brien told the court that the defendant was ‘very uncooperative and said that we would all lose our jobs and that we were been used’.

Gda O’Brien said that the defendant became very aggressive and she informed him that the gardaí were going to seize the vehicle. The defendant refused to step out of the vehicle and Gda O’Brien radioed for assistance. The court heard that the defendant had to be forcibly removed from the vehicle by another garda who responded to the callout for assistance.

Gda James McGuill told the court that he was on patrol when he receive a call from Gda O’Brien who said that she was having difficulty with a male. When Gda McGuill arrived he approached the male driver, who was sitting in his van, and asked him for his details.

“He told me to f**k off and that it was none of my business, he became aggressive. He put his fists up and one foot out to keep me away and said that he was immune from prosecution.

“I really could not comprehend what he was saying, it was that bad. I physically removed him from the car” said Gda McGuill.

The defendant, who has two previous convictions under the Road Traffic Act, was arrested and brought to Kilkenny Garda Station where he subsequently verified his details and was released.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the defendant and imposed recognisances in the event of an appeal.