Took his sister's car without permission

Anthony McGivern, Ballygowan Park, Banbridge, was fined £250 last Thursday at the local court for driving without insurance on November 27 last year.

He was also given six points and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy. For taking the vehicle without the owner’s permission he was fined £200. The court heard that at 11.30pm police spoke to the defendant who was driving a car at Ballygowan Park. McGivern admitted that he was not insured and that he did not have permission from the owner to drive the car.

A solicitor representing the defendant said that her client was a self-employed tiler and needed his licence.

She explained that he had insurance for a commercial vehicle.

The solicitor added that that it was ‘a stupid decision’ on McGivern’s part to take the car.