A trainee jockey who was caught driving without proper insurance has been told to make a donation to Donegal’s GAA Centre of Excellence – by a Donegal-born judge.
Judge Sean MacBride ordered Jonathan Cresswell to pay €300 to avoid having a conviction.
Cresswell was caught driving from Co Monaghan to the Galway Races without proper car insurance.
Judge Seán MacBride, who is originally from Inishowen, dismissed the prosecution under the Probation Act at Carrickmacross Court, Co Monaghan, against Cresswell (23) of Chestnut Manor, Caledon, Co Tyrone.
Mr Cresswell undertook, through defence lawyer Gerry Jones, to donate €300 to the new Donegal GAA Centre of Excellence.
Judge MacBride queried Mr Cresswell on how the horse he was riding at Galway had fared in the race, but was informed it had not won.
Dismissing the prosecution, the judge said he would give the young trainee jockey “a chance” on this occasion, and wished him “every success in the future”.