A 21-year-old Macken man who believed he was insured to drive his friend's vehicle has been ordered to pay £250 and has had six penalty points imposed on his licence at Fermanagh Magistrates Court.

Resident Magistrate Liam McNally heard how at approximately 2.30am on 16th July this year, Niall Joseph McManus of Trusten, Macken, Enniskillen, was driving an Astra with two female passengers aboard along the Arney Road, Belnaleck, when he was stopped at a vehicle checkpoint. He was asked to produce documentation, and it was later discovered that the defendant was a named driver on a family vehicle and was not covered to drive the vehicle in question.

Defending solicitor, Garry Smyth, said his client thought he was insured to drive the car on the morning in question, and he confirmed he was insured to drive a family vehicle.

Mr McNally then asked whose vehicle McManus was driving, to which Mr Smyth replied, 'a friend's'.

He told the Court his client was a joiner who needed his licence to travel to and from sites.

Addressing McManus, Mr McNally said, "I think you knew quite well that you weren't insured to drive your friend's vehicle."

For that offence, he ordered a £250 fine and incurred six penalty points.