Carpenter before court in Laois after buying insurance on Facebook

A carpenter who bought insurance on Facebook appeared before Portlaoise District Court for driving while uninsured. 

Egidijus Bertasius (46) of Balladine Road, Abbeyleix, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the Ridge Road in Portlaoise on May 9, 2025. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man was stopped while driving on the Ridge Road at 8.30pm on the date in question and his vehicle was seized for not having insurance. He said the man had two previous convictions for no insurance. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had “foolishly acquired a policy of insurance through Facebook that was not valid.” 

She told the court that the man was working as a carpenter and needed to drive. “He bought it (Insurance) on Facebook which was very silly,” she said. “He paid €3,000 for his new policy,” she told Judge Catherine Ryan. 

Judge Ryan said that if someone needs a vehicle to work, having the correct paperwork should be a top priority.  “To rely on Facebook to get a policy, I have never heard of that,” she remarked. 

Judge Ryan disqualified the man from driving for two years and fined him €750. “Don’t rely on Facebook in future,” she advised the man.