Vehicle seized from Cork motorist caught driving with no insurance, license, tax or NCT

A Cork motorist who was caught driving without any valid documentation had his vehicle seized and also failed to pay fixed penalty notices fines that were imposed the district court has heard.

Court presenter Sergeant Tom Mulcahy said that a car was stopped on Main Street, Dunmanway Co. Cork on March 23, 2025 at 5.25pm. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 26-year-old Shaun McSweeney with an address at an apartment on Main Street, Dunmanway, Co Cork.

On inspection, gardai found the vehicle had no valid insurance disc displayed, no tax and no NCT. McSweeney was also unable to produce a valid driver’s license. The vehicle was seized and fixed charged penalty notices were issued which went unpaid. The court was told that McSweeney had no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Conrad Murphy said McSweeney had been out of the country for several years working variously in France, England and Lapland before returning. The court was told that McSweeney worked as a painter and was previously being driven by his girlfriend but now had transport with his business partner.

Mr Murphy said that McSweeney’s provisional license had lapsed when he was out of the country but he had obtained a learner permit since his return and was “on the road” to getting his full license.

Judge Joanne Carroll convicted and fined McSweeney €175 for driving without insurance and convicted and fined him €125 for using a vehicle without a valid NCT. Charges for non-display of an NCT, driving without a licence, failing to produce a licence and not taxing the vehicle were struck out.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.