Painter volunteered to drive friends

Trainee painter Oisin Bell, of Ronan Court, Magherafelt, was fined a total of £425 and banned from driving for four weeks for having no insurance, possessing cannabis and failing to display ‘R’ plates.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan remarked that while she had “an element of sympathy for the defendant” he had been foolish on the night to drive the car.

Counsel prosecuting said the incident was detected by police in the early hours of December 16.

She said a grinder with a small amount of cannabis was located in the vehicle.

The lawyer said Bell was driving and there was a number of other people in the vehicle who were intoxicated.

She said Bell told the police that he was driving for a friend who was intoxicated in the back.

She said it transpired the defendant was not insured to drive the vehicle, and was a restricted driver at the time and no plates were displayed.

Admitting the offences defence lawyer, Liam McStay, said Bell had been out with friends for the night and the owner of the car had taken too much alcohol.

“He voluntarily offered to drive the car and was stopped by the police,” he explained.

Mr McStay said the defendant had been very open with the police. He said Bell required his driving licence as he was required on occasions to go off site.

“He has insurance for his own vehicle but this did not cover him to driver this one,” he added.

A destruction order was made for the drug.