A District Court has dismissed a case against an Indian-origin man accused of driving without insurance, after accepting that he was forced to drive by his employer.
The case involved Amu Pushpan (27), who lives at Gandon Hall, Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. He was brought before Bray District Court by An Garda Síochána.
Pushpan pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving without insurance. He told the court that he drove the vehicle only because his employer pressured him to do so, warning that refusal could cost him his job and affect his visa status.
During a Garda check, Pushpan was unable to produce a valid Irish driving licence or insurance. At the time, he was working in the human resources department of Kare Plus, a care provider based in south Dublin. He said he was instructed to drive staff members to Greystones despite clearly stating that he had no insurance and no driving experience in Ireland.
According to the court, Pushpan was told by company officials: “If you want a job, you have to drive.” His solicitor argued that, as an Indian-origin migrant on a study visa, he did not have the same freedom to refuse such demands as an Irish citizen.
A key factor in the dismissal was evidence from a witness who confirmed the employer’s threats. The Garda also accepted that there is a clear difference between acting to keep a job and acting against one’s will.
The judge dismissed the case, accepting that Pushpan acted under coercion rather than by choice.