Possession of fake caravan registration certificate

By Claire Henry

A woman who was found in possession of a fake caravan registration certificate has been spared jail.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Margaret Doran (36) of Kimmage Manor, Kimmage, Dublin 6, pleaded guilty to having a false document in the form of an instrument certificate registration for a caravan on October 15, 2019, at the Ranch House, Saggart.

She has no previous convictions.

Passing sentence yesterday, Judge Martin Nolan said the gardai became suspicious of the origins of a caravan that this defendant was in and questioned her.

Judge Nolan said this defendant pleaded guilty to an offence regarding documents.

He noted that she had had tragedies in her life and that there were other co-accused involved, and they have also been dealt with.

The judge said, “I think it would be unfair to imprison her,” and said, “She is unlikely to reoffend”.

Judge Nolan sentenced her to two years in prison, which he suspended in full.

Garda Sergeant Simon Whelan told Shaun Smyth, BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question, gardai were searching the area of land known as the “Ranch House” in Saggart.

Doran did not own the land, and it is believed she was paying rent to park her caravan there.

The court heard that gardai knocked on the door of her caravan.

A member of the gardai who specialises in examining stolen vehicles examined the caravan; he noted that part of the VIN number had been ground down.

Other tampering to the caravan was also uncovered.

Gda Sgt Whelan said Doran took ownership of the caravan at the scene.

She said that she had swapped her smaller caravan for this one and paid a sum of money to a man in Sligo.

The name of the man she gave the gardai was a very common name and she did not know his address.

Gardai were unable to track this man down.

The court heard that Doran gave the gardai a logbook for the caravan which turned out to be a false logbook.

Gardai said the caravan was valued at €25,000.

The gardai seized the caravan.

Gda Sgt Whelan agreed with the defence counsel that his client had been renting a spot on the land at the Ranch House.

The garda agreed with counsel that when the caravan was seized, Doran became homeless.

She also agreed that Doran’s husband was killed in a car accident.

He asked the court to take into account his client’s guilty plea and lack of previous convictions.