Fined for having fake driving licence
The case came before Roscommon District Court. Pic: iStock
A 35-year-old man was fined a total of €1,500 at Roscommon District Court for possession of, and using, a fake Portuguese driving licence.
Alessandro Linhares, with a former address at 3 Lough House View, Tullamore, County Offaly, and now living in County Cavan, pleaded guilty to the offences which happened on December 24th, 2024, on the Athlone Road, Acres, Roscommon Town.
He was detected by Garda Colum Barron.
His solicitor, Mary Mullarkey, said her client had been in the country for three years. She added that her client had been told that there was a reciprocal arrangement for the recognition of Brazilian driving licences in Portugal and that he had paid someone to sort this for him.
Judge James Faughnan was told gardaí had carried out investigations about this.
The judge commented that the accused was trying to “get one over on insurance companies” by using a false licence.
Judge Faughnan said that had the accused gotten into an accident, insurance cover would have been an issue. He added that if a person received a settlement of €50,000 in a claim involving an insured driver, this would fall to €3,000 for an accident involving an uninsured driver.
The Judge handed down two fines of €750 each. A destruction order was also made for the forged licence.
