‘I am not pleading guilty because I know I am telling the truth’

A Mullingar man has been cleared of being at the wheel without a seatbelt on after telling a court: “There has been many other times I have paid fines, but this time I not pleading guilty because I know I am telling the truth.”

Mikey Myers, 34 Grange Heights, Mullingar, Westmeath appeared at Mullingar District Court to a summons that had arisen from an incident on February 21, 2025 at Grange Heights, Mullingar.

Garda Keith Gerrity gave evidence of having stopped Mr Myers driving a 131 registered vehicle just after 5pm.

He said his intention was to speak with Mr Myers regarding an unrelated issue concerning the tax compliance of the same vehicle from a few days previously.

Garda Gerrity maintained that as the 39-year-old approached his marked garda car, he noticed Mr Myers had no seatbelt on and issued him with a Fixed Charge Notice (FCN).

The court heard that notice remained unpaid, leading to a summons and the case coming before Judge Bernadette Owens.

Defence solicitor Louis Kiernan corroborated Garda Gerrity’s earlier claim on the tax, and told the court of My Myers’ belief that he had not committed any offence when stopped on this occasion.

“He is adamant he had the seatbelt on and then took if off after seeing you,” said Mr Kiernan, putting his client’s stance to Garda Gerrity.

In taking the oath, Mr Myers reaffirmed that, adding if he had been culpable on the day in question, he would have had no issue in paying the FCN or fine that would follow.

“He (Garda Gerrity) was looking at my number plate for two or three minutes and when he was looking at the driver’s licence I got out and took the seatbelt off to show him I had the tax,” he said.

“There has been many other times I have paid fines, but this time I not pleading guilty because I know I am telling the truth.”

Judge Owens said while she was in no way questioning the state evidence, her observation of Mr Myers taking the stand had convinced her of his bona fides. “I saw Mr Myers as he was taking the oath and he ran his ditches a bit,” she said. “He was a bit enthusiastic and I think possibly the same thing happened here. He saw the garda, he wanted to show him he had the tax and I say he took off the seatbelt and then Garda Gerrity saw him.”