Prominent anti-vaccine campaigner Antonio Mureddu has been disqualified from driving after being found guilty of road traffic offences in Donegal.
Mureddu was apprehended after his red Alfa Romeo bearing a false number plate roused the suspicion of Gardai. The plate bore the lettering ‘The I Job’ instead of the actual registration number of the vehicle.
Mureddu, a 45-year-old Italian national, with an address at the Headford Arms, Headford, County Galway, failed to appear when his case came before Letterkenny District Court.
A woman who told Judge Vincent Deane that she was ‘here by special appearance, not by general appearance’ appeared to speak on Mureddu’s behalf.
When asked to clarify her position, the woman said she was not a legal representative and told the Judge: “I am not here to answer questions.”
Judge Deane told the woman that she had no right of audience.
“You are the trustee of the prosecutor,” the woman replied, before Judge Deane told her to either take a seat or leave the court.
Details of the case against Mureddu were outlined by Garda Sergeant Michael Kilcoyne, who said he was on mobile patrol on October 23, 2021, accompanied by Garda Stephen Campbell, when a red Alfa Romeo, which was traveling in the opposite direction, drew their attention.
At 9.50am, the Gardai, who were traveling from Ballybofey towards Donegal Town turned to follow the car before stopping it at Cashelnavean.
When stopped, Mureddu refused to engage with the officers and told them he had a right of ‘private conveyance’.
Mureddu handed Gardai a document, which they explained was not an official document and they sought official proof of his identity.
Sergeant Kilcoyne said attempts to engage with Mureddu were ‘futile’.
When told that the number plates on the car were either illegal or not official, Mureddu told the Gardai that they were ‘official plates as regards conveyance rules’.
When Mureddu remained uncooperative, additional assistance was requested.
Mureddu was subsequently arrested and the vehicle seized.
At Letterkenny Garda Station, Mureddu produced an Irish driving license and it was discovered that the vehicle was an 09-G reg car that was registered to Mureddu, who told Gardai: “I do not interact.”
After each of the charges were read to him at the station, Mureddu said: “I do not consent to anything. I do not want to be in a contract. I do not want to interact with you.”
The court heard that Mureddu had previous convictions for dangerous driving and speeding.
For driving without insurance, Judge Deane disqualified Mureddu for two years and fined him €400. Mureddu was fined €100 for driving with fraudulent plates and for failing to provide Gardai with information on request, he was handed a €100 fine.
Recognisance in the event of an appeal was set at €600, to include a €200 cash lodgement.
At the end of the hearing, the woman asked for a copy of the court order. Judge Deane informed her that this was a public document that could be obtained from the court office.
Mureddu hit the headlines in February, 2022 when he was arrested and questioned about encouraging 67-year-old Covid-sceptic patient Joe McCarron to leave Letterkenny University Hospital the previous September, when he was gravely ill.
Mr McCarron was returned to hospital two days later, but subsequently died.
Gardaí sent a file to the DPP in relation to Mureddu’s role in that incident, but the state prosecutor later advised that no criminal charges be pursued.