Learner driver is told to grasp the nettle

A man who appeared before Limavady Magistrates Court was fined £350 on a series of motoring offences.
Woman to be sentenced next week on drugs offences.Woman to be sentenced next week on drugs offences.
Woman to be sentenced next week on drugs offences.

In the dock on Wednesday last was John Joseph McCloskey (39), with an address on the court record as Rosseden Drive, Limavady.

The District Judge, Liam McNally, was told by the prosecution that police on duty stopped McCloskey at Catherine Street in Limavady at 4.50pm on February 21.

At the time McCloskey was behind the wheel while holding a learner’s licence, but he did not have ‘L’ plates displayed on the vehicle he was driving.

The court was told that the defendant’s mother was also in the car, but she did not have a licence to drive.

McCloskey was cautioned for not being supervised to drive, not displaying ‘L’ Plates and not having insurance to drive, and made no reply to the charges.

Peter Jack, solicitor, who appeared for the defence, said McCloskey knew he shouldn’t be driving without a qualified driver.

“He’s 39, and he is going to have to do something about it,” said Mr. Jack.

The solicitor told the court that McCloskey would have to “grasp the nettle and sit his test”.

Sentencing, District Judge McNally said he would take into account McCloskey’s guilty plea at the first opportunity, and imposed fines totalling £350.

In addition to the fines, McCloskey’s driving licence was endorsed with a total of six penalty points in respect of the charges.

As well as the fine, McCloskey was also ordered to pay an offender’s levy of £15.