Insurance offence brings suspended jail term for Lurgan man

John Martin McDonald (50), whose address was given to the court as Richmount Gardens, Lurgan, was also fined £150, ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy and banned for nine months.

For not having a driving licence he was fined £100 and he was fined £75 for having a defective tyre on his vehicle.

The court heard that a police mobile patrol stopped McDonald while he was driving at Taghnaven Close in Lurgan.

He said that the car belonged to his brother but a police check revealed that the defendant was the registered owner.

McDonald had left to get his brother and police went to the defendant’s address.

The front door was open but he was not there.

The front passenger side tyre of the car was devoid of tread.

McDonald, who did not have a solicitor and pleaded guilty himself, said that he had never applied for a licence.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the defendant had previous no insurance offences and this was becoming something of a pattern.

He added this was McDonald’s third no insurance offence and warned him that custody could be imposed.