Six-month ban for Offaly driver as judge issues number plate warning

Motorist also fined €750 in his absence after Tullamore District Court hears he had seven previous convictions

Published 31st Jul 2026, 13:00 BST Judge issues warning about number plates at Tullamore District Court | Tribune Pictures Motorist also fined €750 in his absence after Tullamore District Court hears he had seven previous convictions Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

JUDGE Andrew Cody said he regards number plates which do not conform with the regulations as serious offences as he banned a driver from the road for six months.

Judge Cody was commenting at Tullamore District Court where Callum Coughlan, Bohernagrishna, Ballycumber Road, Clara had been summonsed for having a front identification mark which did not conform on January 17 last on the R420 road at Muiniagh, Offaly.

Garda Kieran Fitzpatrick told the District Court that he prosecuted the driver of the 141 Cavan registered vehicle for having the non-conforming identification mark.

Garda Fitzpatrick said he issued a fixed charge penalty notice but it had not been paid.

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There was no appearance by or for Mr Coughlan when his summons came before Judge Cody.

Garda Fitzpatrick said the driver had a total of seven previous convictions for road traffic offences and had previously been disqualified from driving for a week for having no tax.

There were fines going back to 2023 for being an unaccompanied learner driver and another fine of €300 in Athlone District Court for the same offence in 2025.

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He said he would repeat a statement he had made before. “The provision of proper number plates that the gardai can read on their AMPR [automatic number plate recognition] system can be crucial to identifying crimes and identifying cars with no insurance,” said the judge.

“Number plates which try to obstruct that are effectively dodging automatic detection, particularly grey or smaller number plates which speed detectors can't detect. I regard them as serious matters.”

He imposed a fine of €750 on Mr Coughlan and disqualified him from driving for six months.