A controversial Fermanagh number plate which had never been issued by the vehicle licensing authorities here because it was deemed to be “inappropriate” had been offered for sale at public auction advertised by the DVLA online - until Wednesday, when the Impartial Reporter questioned it. 
NIG 31 which could be interpreted as the name “NIGEL” was originally listed as Lot No. 887 at the public auction of cherished number plates at the Oxford Belfry Hotel in Oxfordshire, over the three-day period from May 18 to 20. However because all NIG and PIG prefixes were never issued in Northern Ireland, questions arose how NIG 31 got into the sale catalogue.
Some members of the Cherished Numbers Guild questioned the release of the number on ethical grounds but once it was included in the auction catalogue, they accused the government agency of capitalising on it.
One local member of the Guild, Dessie Elton who runs Speedy Registrations near Lisbellaw, said he was aware of many other controversial prefixes not being issued by the DVLA and questioned how NIG 31 got through. An enquiry from The Impartial Reporter to the DVLA this week, however, made them question their original decision.
A spokesman for the DVLA said: “We did intend to offer it as it could spell “NIGEL.” But after further discussions, as it was a suppressed number, it has been withdrawn for sale. We have a duty of care.”
The number was indeed taken out of the online sale catalogue immediately. Dessie Elton of Speedy Registrations said if it had gone ahead to the sale, it could have realised £25,000. He recalled how N1 GEL had made £60,000 in 1996. “I was appalled to see it in the catalogue on ethical grounds.”