‘No painting, no job' was the predicament a young house painter found himself in when told by his employer to drive a van, as described at Tuam District Court by his solicitor.
Souga da Silva, Apt 83, Fionnuisce, Doughiska, Galway, appeared before Judge James Faughnan charged with driving without insurance and not having a driving licence.
Danny McGrath solr (defending ) said his client was a painter and was told by his boss to go to a job and provided with a van to get there. The defendant knew he had no insurance but “no painting, no job” so he felt he had no option but to drive or lose his work.
He came to Garda attention because he was holding a phone while driving. He was stopped for this offence and admitted to the Garda that he had no driving licence. The Judge was told that the defendant had even paid the ticket he got for the phone offence.
Judge Faughnan imposed a fine of €500 for having no insurance along with a two-year driving disqualification. In addition a fine of €300 was imposed for driving without a licence.
