A motorsport fan who drove his motorbike without insurance was fined €175.

Kevin Barrett (32), of Kileady, Ballinhassig, was charged with driving without insurance or tax while visiting this year’s West Cork Rally, Clonakilty District Court heard.

On March 15th, Gardaí stopped Mr Barrett after seeing him drive his Yamaha 700cc motorbike erratically at Casement Park, Clonakilty.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy said he had been ‘revving it to its limits’.

Mr Barrett’s insurance on the motorbike had expired in early March and the required tax was out of date since August 2024.

Gardaí seized the motorbike and issued a fixed penalty notice.

The court heard that Mr Barrett, who works as a block layer, had since paid the penalty fine, as well as the tax and back tax, with a new insurance policy taken out on March 19th 2025.

Mr Barrett had five previous convictions, including for assault and possession of drugs, the court heard.

The defendant’s last conviction was dated December 12th 2019 for drug driving at Cork Circuit Court, which saw him fined and disqualified from driving.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taafe said: ‘He had been on holiday and came to West Cork driving his motorbike.'

He has a service van and also owns a classic car.

While on holiday the insurance policy on his motorbike lapsed. He did get an email but did not read it.’

Judge Joanne Carroll struck out the charge of driving without tax, issuing the defendant with a €175 fine for the no insurance charge, with four months to pay.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.