A MAN with no insurance who drove off from a Skibbereen petrol station without paying for fuel was fined €100.

Jens Rigelle (31), of Derrygereen, Skibbereen, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to possession of cannabis, driving without insurance and a charge of making off without payment.

The court heard that at around 2pm on March 23^rd last gardaí received a report of a man in a hoodie driving off from Spar service station in Skibbereen without paying for €99.80 worth of fuel.

Mr Rigelle had since paid back the money for the fuel, the court heard.

At around 9.30pm on May 18^th last, gardaí received a report that a red Opel was parked in an isolated location in Mullenroe, Macroom.

They went to the scene and spoke to Mr Rigelle and noticed a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car.

Following a search they found €30 of cannabis, which he said was for personal use.

He also admitted having no insurance and gardaí seized the car.

Mr Rigelle had no previous convictions, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Conrad Murphy said his client is a Belgian national and had lived for much of his life in Norway.

Mr Rigelle had been in Ireland since March 2025 and was expecting the mother of his young child to move to Ireland from the Philippines, but the relationship ended.

He now intends to return to live with his foster mother in Norway.

The court heard that the accused had a part-time job in Skibbereen and was selling car parts in Clonakilty for some time, but was currently unemployed and could not afford to pay for petrol and lived for some time in his car.

‘He was going through a difficult time and it culminated in this,’ said Mr Murphy. ‘He pleaded guilty as soon as possible and he wants to move on and take the punishment.’

Judge Joanne Carroll imposed a €100 fine for driving without insurance.

The judge adjourned the case to June 16^th to check if he had paid his fine and made travel arrangements to go to Norway.

For leaving a petrol station without paying for fuel, and the drug possession charge the judge remanded him on bail to July 7^th at Clonakilty District Court.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.