Gardaí stopped a personal trainer who was driving without ever having a licence last year, the District Court heard.
Trevor Douglas (35) of 44 Newtownhill, Tramore, Waterford, appeared before Judge Catherine Ryan at a sitting of Waterford District Court recently, and pleaded guilty to charges of driving without a licence and without insurance, contrary to Sections 38 and 56 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, which related to an incident where he was stopped by Gardaí in April 2025.
Garda Conor Courtney told the court that he was on patrol in the Waterside area of Waterford City on 4 April 2025, when he stopped the accused while driving. After speaking to the accused, the Garda subsequently discovered that he was driving without having valid insurance or a licence, and that he had never held one before. It was noted that he has no previous convictions.
Acting for the accused, solicitor Ken Cunningham said that his client was ‘accepting’ of the offence and pleading guilty, also highlighting that the accused has nothing else pending before the courts.
After Judge Ryan asked why the accused was driving, the solicitor said that he “took a chance” on the day by using a car that belonged to his partner at the time. He added that his client is working as a personal trainer and still does not have a licence, indicating that there would be “no point” applying for one if he was about to receive a disqualification.
Judge Ryan convicted the accused of driving with no insurance, and handed him a €450 fine for the matter. The driving without a licence charge was taken into consideration.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Robyn Power
