Enniskillen Courthouse
AN ENNISKILLEN motor cyclist has been banned from driving after he was caught driving without a licence for the third time.
Ernestas Zhrskis, 21, of Woodview in the town, was arraigned on a charge of no driving licence when he appeared before Enniskillen Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
A solicitor for the public prosecution service outlined to the court that on April 15 at approximately 7.20pm police were on patrol on the Tempo Road when they stopped Zhrskis riding a Yamaha FZR.
The accused told the officers that he owned the motor bike but when asked for his licence he replied that was unable to hand it over.
When he was cautioned on suspicion of no driving licence but he made no reply.
Later checks with the Lithuanian authorities revealed that Zhrskis did not own a drivers’ licence nor does he own a Northern Ireland driving licence.
It emerged during court that the defendant had made an attempt to apply for a UK licence but failure on a payment meant that he did not meet the requirements for a licence.
The accused, who has been living in Northern Ireland for over four years, has never sat a driving test despite being caught a number of times riding a motor bike.
District Judge Nigel Broderick pointed out two previous offences for no drivers licence over the past two years saying: “How many times does he have to appear in court before he gets a UK driving licence.”
It also emerged that he has been banned from driving for these offences.
Defence solicitor for the case Garry Smyth claimed that his client had attempted to get a Lithuanian licence: “He had applied for one in his home country and also for a UK licence but HE failed to pay the correct fee.
Judge Broderick said: “You fall foul of the standards. In these circumstances this is his third appearance in this court for no driving licence. He should have learned his lesson before now that if he wants to drive and stay here then he needs a licence.”
Judge Broderick imposed an immediate driving ban of three months and fined him £200. A charge of driving a motor vehicle without insurance was withdrawn by the public prosecution service.
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