Derry Judge calls for border licence change

Derry’s District Judge Barney McElholm has said that the British and Irish governments must tackle the problem of people holding driving licences in both jurisdictions.
His comments came after it emerged in court that a woman caught speeding last year was disqualified from driving in the North, but had a valid licence from the republic.
The court was told that 44 year old Maltilda Diver of 2, Labre Park in Derry was caught speeding on November 28 last while disqualified from driving in the North. However, when she was stopped, she had a licence from the Republic.
Judge McElholm said this is something both governments had to tackle as judges sitting in border counties came across this sort of thing regularly.
He was told that Diver sometimes stayed with family in the Republic and that was why she had a licence from there but she also resided in the North.
Judge McElholm said some people ‘seemed to dip in and out’.
He said Diver had a very bad driving record and fined her £250 and imposed 6 penalty points.
When told that his client had to pay the fine forthwith as her licence had a address in the South the solicitor said she also resided in the North.
Judge McElholm said that she was ‘trying to have a foot in both camps.’