A man who thought a Republic of Ireland Provisional driving licence allowed him to drive in Northern Ireland has been handed a driving ban after being convicted of several driving offences.

On April 30, 2021, police observed a Toyota Avensis, being driven by Charles Ward (25), of Crevenish Park, Kesh, at Main Street, Kesh with checks showing there was no valid insurance in place.

Detected

Then, on June 23, 2021, Ward was detected driving at Pound Street, Irvinestown, holding a mobile phone in his right hand up to his right ear, and appeared to be talking into it.

Finally, on July 16, 2021, Ward was again stopped ay Main Street, Kesh, where police spoke to the defendant and asked him to provide his driving documents, but he was unable to do so.

His solicitor, Patrick Roche, explained to Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday that Ward was the holder of a Republic of Ireland Provisional driving licence, which he obtained on March 24, 2021.

He said Ward wrongly believed this gave him an entitlement to drive in this jurisdiction, and it remained his belief until very recently.

Mr. Roche said all these incidents happened after he got the Provisional licence. He added there was a distinction to be drawn between what his client did, and somebody driving with no licence.

Delayed

The case had been significantly delayed in coming to court, Mr. Roche said, and his client had been attempting to regularise the matter and obtain a Northern Ireland Provisional licence.

He asked the court to give Ward credit for his very early plea, and his attempts to regularise the situation, and said that instead of a totting up of penalty points, a short disqualification would give Ward time off the road to get his affairs in order.

Ward was given a six-week driving disqualification, and fined a total of £550 for having no driving licence, no insurance and using a mobile phone whilst driving.