Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH04
A JUDGE has said it “defies belief” that a Ballinamallard man would drive to Enniskillen Police Station while he was disqualified.
Daniel Beattie (20) of Brien Crescent, Ballinamallard pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, after he had been seen driving by police at the 24-hour filling station on Queen Street in Enniskillen, which is located next door to the police station.
Police had seen Beattie and another man getting out of blue Vauxhall Astra at around 8.30pm on Wednesday, January 13. The officers later saw Beattie getting into the driver’s seat of the car, and they then realised he was disqualified.
Beattie admitted to driving the car and agreed to be interviewed by the officers. During the interview, which he fully cooperated with, he admitted to owning the car, having bought it just a few days prior to the incident. He also admitted he was disqualified from driving.
Defence barrister Stephen Fitzpatrick said Beattie had been “very foolish.” District Judge Nigel Broderick replied: “Imagine driving to a police station when you are a disqualified driver. It defies belief.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said Beattie’s record “does him no favours” but asked Judge Broderick to give him credit for his early plea, suggesting a suspended sentence may be appropriate as the incident would be “hopefully a one off.”
Judge Broderick told Beattie he had been very foolish and said he had a poor record. He sentenced him to 60 hours community service and disqualified him from driving for a further 12 months.
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