Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday that Kevin McCabe (22) of Camphill Park in Newtownbutler was not aware he needed insurance for the quad, which he was observed driving in on a public road in the village on April 15.

The court heard that around 3.55pm police saw McCabe driving the blue Yamaha Blaster quad on a grassy area at Camphill Park. Another male on a scrambler bike was with him. Police then watched McCabe drive the quad onto the road and towards his mother’s house. 

When the officers arrived at the home McCabe was at the house, standing beside the quad in the garden. When he was interviewed, he admitted to not being insured to drive the vehicle. 

Defence solicitor Myles McManus said the incident “wasn’t your bog standard” case of no insurance, and explained McCabe honestly did not realise he needed to take out a policy for the 200cc bike, which he had bought from a friend in Derrylin for “a couple of hundred Pounds.” Mr McManus added that several Lisnaskea police officers had seen McCabe driving it in the past and had not raised any issues over it. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick said if it had not been for the fact McCabe, who had a previous motoring conviction, had recently secured employment he would have disqualified him from driving. 

“Hopefully you are back on the straight and narrow now,” said the judge, who said McCabe now realised how important his licence was. 

Judge Broderick fined McCabe £250 and imposed eight penalty points on his licence.