Judge warns motorists to check insurance

Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop made the remark after imposing a £100 fine with £15 offender levy and six penalty points on Raymond Martin McKenna from Sullenboy Park, Cookstown, for having no insurance.

The court heard the 35-year-old was followed by police on mobile patrol at Cookstown Road, Moneymore, on June 19, 2019.

Prosecuting counsel said the van was pulled over at Minister’s Walk and police approached the driver to check for insurance.

The lawyer said McKenna told police the vehicle belonged to a friend and he had borrowed it to move furniture.

Continuing, counsel said McKenna maintained he had third party insurance to drive the van and that there must be a mistake on the insurance company’s side.

Admitting the offence Michael Forde explained McKenna has been driving for 15 years and believed his insurance company had extended his policy to cover him to drive third party.

Mr Forde said the defendant simply renewed his policy with the same company every year and took it for granted that the extension to drive third party was included.

However, the extension was cancelled without his knowledge, continued the lawyer. “Like many people he simply did not read his insurance details and the offence really comes down to an administration matter,” he said.

Mr Forde added that the defendant was currently unemployed due to the Covid-19 situation.

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