Retired doctor (67) was learner driver and had imitation insurance and tax discs on car

A RETIRED Health Service Executive doctor was found to have false insurance and tax discs on his car, Tullamore District Court heard.

A two-year driving ban was imposed on Basava Siddalingappa (67), Droim Liath, Collins Lane, Tullamore, for a number of road traffic offences committed at Droim Liath, Muiniagh, Tullamore on December 20 last year.

Garda Noel Tier told the court that he had seen the driver when he was on patrol in Tullamore and found that the accused was a learner permit holder but he had no 'L' plates displayed.

Garda Tier also said he noticed that the tax and insurance discs on the vehicle were poor quality copies and were not genuine.

The garda said the driver admitted immediately that he had no tax or insurance and the vehicle was seized.

An alcohol test was carried out on the man but it was found that he was sober.

The court was told the driver had no previous convictions.

When Mr Siddalingappa appeared before Judge Michael Connellan he was represented by Aisling Maloney, solicitor, who said he was a learner driver who had tried to pass the test 10 times.

The car he was driving on the date of the offences had been parked up and he had only taken it out on that night. The car had been for his daughter.

In relation to the discs, the man had said he had been advised by a friend to put them in the window of the car.

The accused man had been a doctor of audiology with the HSE but Ms Maloney applied for legal aid for him because his mortgage was in arrears and his house was in negative equity and he was trying to sell it.

Mr Siddalingappa told the court himself that he was in receipt of a pension of €450 from his work as a doctor and also received a state pension of €450 but the mortgage was €1,650.

Along with the two-year disqualification from driving, Judge Connellan imposed a fine of €750 for driving without insurance. He gave the man six months to pay the fine.

Two further fines of €250 each were imposed for using a vehicle with no road tax and for exhibiting an imitation disc.

Judge Connellan granted Mr Siddalingappa legal aid and fixed recognisances for an appeal at €250 cash.

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