A mechanic from Douglas has been fined £1,150 and given 11 points on his license after admitting to driving an uninsured and unroadworthy vehicle.
Fergal Patrick O’Connor pleaded guilty to three charges in court, including having no insurance, no driving license, and a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
The incident occurred on 26 April when police stopped O’Connor using a Stinger device to deflate the tyres of his Ford Transit Connect van. The van had been involved in a previous incident, and O’Connor was unaware that his license had expired in March 2023.
Upon inspection, the vehicle was found to have numerous defects and was deemed unroadworthy. O’Connor explained that he had borrowed the van and believed he was covered by a company insurance policy.
The court fined O’Connor for the insurance offence (£650), the vehicle’s condition (£400), and the lack of a valid driving license (£100). He was also ordered to pay £50 in prosecution costs and will make payments of £100 per week.
While the mechanic was not involved in the previous incident involving the van, he was held responsible for driving an unsafe vehicle and for not ensuring he had valid insurance and a license.
Source: Isle of Man Today