Engineer was ‘only a couple of clicks’ from insurance in Laois

A solicitor said an engineer’s car insurance remained “only a couple of clicks away” because he hadn’t completed his online application. 

Muhammet Tig (29) of 16 Mel Street, Kilminchy, Portlaoise, admitted not having insurance and failing to produce insurance at Togher, Laois on January 29 last.

“We accept that we were uninsured,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

Sgt Ciaran Mahoney said he stopped the car and discovered it wasn’t insured. He said the vehicle was seized and the defendant had no previous convictions. 

Ms Fitzpatrick explained that her client had attempted to purchase insurance online through 123.ie and he thought he had clicked accept.

However, she told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that when he checked he discovered he hadn’t clicked accept and the message read, “you are only a couple of clicks away” from being insured. 

She said the man worked at Tirlan in Portlaoise as an engineer. She said he is a young man. “I am hoping that the court will leave him driving,” she said. 

Judge Susan Fay said the consequences would have been serious had there been an accident. Noting that he had no previous convictions, she fined the man €500 but didn’t impose a driving ban.