A MOTORIST visiting from overseas had to carry his Christmas presents in bin bags and get two buses to North Cork the day before Christmas Eve after his car was seized by gardaí because the insurance had lapsed.

John Mont (38) of 12 Peckforton Drive, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, England pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court to driving without insurance.

Sgt Eimear O’Connell told the court that the accused was stopped by gardaí at Irishtown in Bandon at 1:15pm on December 23rd last.

‘Following checks made they found out he had no insurance in place. He was later brought to Bandon Garda Station so his identity could be verified,’ said Sgt O’Connell.

The court heard he has no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said his client was in Ireland to visit family and that his insurance had been cancelled three days previously unknown to him.

‘The notification was sent to his dad’s house and my client was unaware that his policy had been cancelled,’ said Mr Taaffe.

Mr Mont told Judge Joanne Carroll that he had Christmas presents in his car which was then seized and he was given three bin bags to remove them from his car.

He then got two buses to Fermoy and Lismore where he was staying for the festive season.

‘I learned my lesson very quickly. My dad had been on holidays and he did not see the letter from my insurance company,’ said Mr Mont, who added that he was unable to access his email while in Ireland.

Judge Carroll struck out the case.