A lorry driver with a false driving licence told a Co Galway court yesterday he had bought it in a Dublin pub for £150.
William James Kerrigan, of Leghowney, Barnesmore, Donegal, was fined £225 and ordered to pay £362.85 witness expenses after being found guilty at Dunmore District Court of having the false document at Milltown, north Co Galway.
Judge Michael Connellan was told the forgery was "a very professional job". The court heard Kerrigan met three men in a Tallaght pub after a car auction. He told the men he had returned from England and was going to try to get work as a driver. They told him it would be expensive to take the driving test and one said his wife worked in a motor tax office and would get him a licence for £150 without the test.
He filled out some forms, got two photographs and handed over £150. The "licence" was posted to him some time later. Garda John Flaherty said that when he stopped Kerrigan on March 23rd, he asked him where he had got the licence. Kerrigan said it had been issued by Donegal County Council. The garda showed the document to a council official who confirmed it was false and had not been issued by it or any other council.
Garda Flaherty said he knew the licence was false because the back of it was a faded pink colour, there was an incorrect number of lines running through the photograph, and the lines were too far apart. Supt Bill Fennell added that the expiry date was inconsistent with the date of issue.
Supt Fennell asked Kerrigan if he had not thought it peculiar to apply for a driving licence in a pub after he had gone through a different procedure when previously applying for a provisional licence.
"I thought I was just cutting the expense of doing the test," Kerrigan replied.
The superintendent pointed out that Kerrigan had paid £150 for a licence which should have cost him only £20.
Judge Connellan said he did not know what tree the defendant thought he had fallen out of. "He must think we are all dense down this part of the country. As far as I'm concerned, his is not an acceptable explanation," he said.
Kerrigan's defence counsel said the men in the pub had fooled his client who had unfortunately succumbed to the temptation of getting a licence without doing the test.
Judge Connellan believed Kerrigan knew the driving licence was forged and he fined him £150 for uttering a forged document purporting to be a driving licence with intent to deceive.
He also fined him £75 for not having a driving licence and ordered him to pay £362.85 witness expenses.