Police who stopped a car on Belfast Road discovered it was being driven by a 16-year-old female with her father in the passenger’s seat.

The incident occurred on April 17, 2022, at around 2.45am near Tamlaght when police on mobile patrol stopped a Ford Kuga. 

This belonged to Austin Alan Crawford (55), with an address of Boyhill Park, Maguiresbridge who made full admissions during a notebook interview.

Crawford’s solicitor, Michael Fahy, told the court the defendant accepted he was aware his daughter was not of the age to drive and it should not have happened.

Mr. Fahy said Crawford had been drinking earlier in the evening and had thought letting his daughter drive was “the lesser of two evils”.

District Judge Steven Keown described the incident as “foolish and unnecessary” issuing six penalty points and £350 fine to Crawford for permitting no insurance.