Enniskillen Court House
A 38-year-old Lisnaskea man who took a vehicle out for a test drive, but didn’t return with the vehicle, was stopped by police and found to have no insurance. Paul McDermott, of Newbridge Road pleaded guilty at Fermanagh Magistrates Court to the charge.
The prosecutor told the court that on October 24, 2012 police received a report from the injured party, a used car salesman who had let the defendant take a Mercedes out for a test drive from a petrol station in the area of Main Street, Lisnaskea. He told McDermott to return when he was ready. The driver was away for a number of hours and when he did not return the car salesman rang the police.
McDermott was stopped by police in the Wellington Road area of Enniskillen and was arrested and cautioned to which he made no reply. He further failed to produce valid insurance for the vehicle.
Brian Charity, defending explained that this was a simple and inoffensive course of events.
Mr Charity told the court that McDermott had intended to buy the vehicle and had taken the test drive. Mr Charity noted that the defendant had been told, ‘come back when you’re ready’ and said there was never any risk of the car not being returned. He also added that his client thought he was covered to drive the vehicle with commercial insurance, but this had not been the case.
District Judge Liam McNally took into account the defendant’s plea of guilty at the first opportunity and noted that although he had a previous record, this was some 20 years ago. The judge imposed a £300 fine and eight penalty points.
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