Electric 'scrambler' type bike rider in court for not being insured in Portlaoise

An ebike rider admitted driving at 40kph on a footpath in Portlaoise. 

Darren Whelan (29) of 7 Broomville Court, Portlaoise admitted driving without a licence or insurance on the Dublin Road, Portlaoise on October 11 last. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was effectively driving a "scrambler" type motorbike on the footpath at 40 plus kilometres an hour on the date in question. He said it was 5pm and the Dublin Road in Portlaoise was “extremely” busy. 

“He was stopped and the bike was seized,” said Sgt Kirby. He said the defendant had 26 previous convictions and 16 were road traffic related. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client didn’t appreciate the speed he was travelling at.  She said there was a dedicated cycle lane on the Dublin Road. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had purchased the bike for €2,000 before new legislation was enacted. The man was of the view that because it was electric he didn’t need a licence or insurance, she said. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the ebike was called a Surron Bee and her client had not realised the speed. 

“If he was at that speed I am going to say it was probably maxed out,” she said. 

She said her client now accepts that he should have been licensed and insured on the day. 

Judge John Brennan asked if the defendant had any work history. 

Ms Fitzpatrick told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that he had previously lived in England and while there he had done some welding. 

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said due to the power of the bike it is classified as a mechanically propelled vehicle. 

Judge Brennan said travelling at 40km on a bike that wasn’t insured is  a serious matter. 

He said the defendant should have been aware of his legal requirements for riding the bike. 

However, he said he wouldn’t impose a disqualification and instead imposed fines totalling €700 and allowed him seven months to pay.