Co Longford-based Italian man thought he had policy in place over insurance

An Italian man who was found by Gardaí driving without insurance has been given an opportunity by a judge.

Vincent Enareuna of Bracklin Park, Edgeworthstown pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to the offence on October 26, 2024.

Sergeant Mark Mahon said Gardaí were conducting a checkpoint at Bracklyn Road, Edgeworthstown when they stopped the defendant at 10.15am.

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The court heard Mr Enareuna had no insurance on the vehicle and the car was seized and taken off him.

The defendant had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Bríd Mimnagh stated her client, a healthcare worker, had been living in Ireland for about nine months when he had this encounter with Gardaí and he had difficulty getting insurance when he arrived in the country.

"His brother has been here 22 years and they are both Italian citizens," she said.

Ms Mimnagh handed in her client's policy and insisted Mr Enareuna had genuinely believed he was fully-insured.

"This is the insurance on the other vehicle, which is in the brother's name and he is the named driver.

"What happened was he mistakenly believed that he was covered to drive both vehicles, but you will see judge if one vehicle hadn't belonged to his brother he would have been insured.”

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Judge Peter White described it as a “reasonable mistake to make” and he decided to dismiss the case.