Mayo man fined at Donegal District Court after vehicle tank found with kerosene

A Mayo man was convicted at Donegal District Court after being found with kerosene in the tank of his vehicle.

Colman Colgan, 68, of Clooncara, Kilmovee, County Mayo, was fined €200 with five months to pay by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Ballyshannon Courthouse.

Mr Colgan had pleaded guilty of keeping kerosene/mineral oil containing markers prescribed by Regulation 29 of the Mineral Oil Tax Regulations 2012, as amended by Mineral Oil Tax (Prescribed Markers) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 at Tawnawully, Donegal Town, on December 2, 2024.

The offence was contrary to Section 102 (1)(b)(ii) and (2) of the Finance Act 1999, as substituted by Section 61 (i) of the Finance Act 2007 and amended by Section 77 of the Finance Act 2008.

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Colgan, the court heard, was “fully cooperative at the scene and was interviewed,” and that “he was fully engaged and outlined his position.”

Speaking at the court, Colgan said: “I topped up the pick-up. It is a small pick-up and a small tank. I picked up the washer, and some of the boys picked up kerosene. I didn’t know it was kerosene.

“It was only a small amount that was in it. I ran lorries for 50 years, and in 1982, everybody had to use kerosene. 

“If you use a pump these days, you don’t know if there is something in the diesel.”

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