Teenagers lose their licences for 14 days'

Barry McGoldrick (18), student, of Eden Road, was also fined £115 for having no insurance.

Neill Marron (19), pre-cast fitter, of Mansfield Heights, was fined a similar amount for permitting no insurance.

The charges arise out of an incident at Magherafelt Road, Moneymore, on August 23.

The court heard the police stopped a car being driven by McGoldrick and belonging to Marron, and asked him to produce his insurance documents.

Prosecuting counsel said later the same day the defendants went to Magherafelt police station where it was discovered the insurance document for McGoldrick was invalid.

The barrister said Marron told police he thought his friend was insured and that they had only driven a short distance.

A defence lawyer for Marron said he had had an operation on his index finger and felt it was too dangerous to drive. He said he thought McGoldrick was insured to drive and they decided to change positions.

The lawyer stressed that they had only driven 300 yards when stopped at a routine police checkpoint.

Admitting the offence for McGoldrick Donal Heron, solictor, said the defendant had changed places with Marron, and stressed there was nothing in his manner of driving which had caused inconvenience to other road users.