Traveller fined for no driving licence

Travellers set up camp on a car park at All Saints Catholic College, Bradley Bar, at the end of last month caravan site in Durham, appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court in Huddersfield.

He pleaded guilty to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a vehicle without insurance and using a vehicle without a valid test certificate.

Prosecutor Natalie Chapman said that police officers pulled over the vehicle the 25-year-old was driving on Oak Lane in Bradley.

She explained: “They stopped the vehicle because it had a smashed windscreen and checks showed that he had no licence or insurance or MOT.”

The court was told that while McDonagh had a criminal record he had no similar offences to his name.

Proceedings were briefly disrupted as he was asked to give evidence under oath and his wife approached the bench and claimed that he didn’t believe in the bible.

Deputy district judge Edward Barr told her to return to the public gallery at the back of the room, resulting in her leaving the courtroom, and questioned McDonagh: “Do you believe in a God?”

When he replied that he did but didn’t believe in bibles, judge Barr asked: “Why won’t you take the oath then? Are you frightened of telling a lie?”

McDonagh changed his mind and took the oath, giving his new address as a caravan site in Honeypot Lane, Darlington.

He said that he had no previous penalty points recorded against him and borrowed the car police caught him in.

When asked if he had a job he replied that he did “a bit of paving” and could earn up to £300 a day, depending on the work.

He admitted that he didn’t have a mortgage and that the money he earns goes to his wife and two children, with his brother sometimes offering them financial assistance. Judge Barr told him: “Three offences bring you before this court, the most serious of which is using a vehicle without third party insurance.

“It is incumbent on anybody in the UK who gets behind the wheel of a car to be supervised and have full insurance and a licence. That’s the law and must be observed.”

McDonagh was fined a total of £500 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and £50 victim surcharge.

His licence will be endorsed with eight penalty points and these will be held on file until he acquires a proper driving licence.

The school was forced to close for a day for “health and safety reasons” due to the presence of travellers on the site.

It was then reopened after the grounds were cleared and secured by staff when the travellers packed up and left.