'I'm just passing through life and don't need insurance' - Man bizarrely tells Irish court

A Donegal man who told gardai that he was an ecclesiastical person 'just passing through life' after being caught with no insurance has been banned from driving.

Charles Paul O'Neill was given a two-year driving disqualification after being convicted of driving without insurance.

The case of O'Neill, a 58-year-old of Rooskey, Quigleys Point, was before Buncrana District Court.

Garda Thomas Duggan told the court that he was on mobile patrol when the ANPR (automatic number-plate recognition) alerted.

The vehicle being driven by O'Neill had pulled in, but Garda Duggan returned to speak to him.

The court heard that O'Neill told Garda Duggan that it wasn't a Garda matter and he didn't have to provide him with his name.

Garda Duggan told how O'Neill was pulled in at a water well and he continued filling water as the garda attempted to obtain his details.

The court was informed that O'Neill told Garda Duggan that he was “ecclesiastical and just passing through life and don't need insurance” and produced an “ecclesiastical certificate”.

O'Neill then told Garda Duggan that his name was “Paul” before giving his proper details around 20 minutes later.

Sergeant Sean McDaid told the court that O'Neill has no previous convictions.

O'Neill faced a number of charges, including driving without insurance, driving without a licence, failing to produce a licence, failing to produce insurance and two counts of failing to give details to the garda.

For driving without insurance, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham disqualified O'Neill from driving for a period of two years. He was also fined €250 and given five months to pay.

For driving without a licence, O'Neill was fined €150 and for failing to furnish the garda with his name he was fined €150. He was given five months to pay the fine.

The other charges were marked as taken into consideration.

Recognisance, in the event of an appeal, was fixed at €250.