A 29-year-old Belleek man has received a three month suspended prison sentence and has been fined £375 after a number of motoring offences brought him before a recent sitting of Fermanagh Magistrate's Court.

Resident Magistrate Peter Murphy heard how at approximately 10.15am on Thursday, 27th March this year, Michael Hugh Patrick Daly from Blackrock Park was detected driving without a seatbelt. It then emerged that Daly was a disqualified driver who had no insurance and no permission to drive the vehicle in question. He was disqualified from July 2007.

Defending, Barry Lynam told the Court that his client had a poor record and was sailing close to the wind in terms of a prison sentence. He submitted that he was a 29-year-old man who lived at home with his mother who was paralysed down one side and he was her nominated carer.

He submitted that Daly had been ill a few days earlier and on the day in question had got into his sister's car to drive to the chemist. It was a foolish decision in the extreme but that was how the incident before the Court had happened. Daly he said, accepted his culpability and had entered an early plea.

For driving when disqualified Mr Murphy imposed a three month prison sentence suspended for two years. For driving without insurance, he was fined £300. For driving without a seatbelt, he was fined £75. For driving without consent he was conditionally discharge for two years. Daly was further disqualified from driving for two years.