A man before a court for not paying the proper bus fare claimed diplomatic immunity, declaring himself to be the "president of a new union of European states".
He was appealing in the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin against a fine of £50 for having failed to pay the correct fare on a Dublin bus.
Mr Brendan Corrigan, of Pinetree Crescent, Tallaght, Co Dublin, claimed consular and diplomatic immunity from minor offences. He admitted that in April 1998 he had paid a fare of only 55p, which, when checked by an inspector, should have been £1.
Mr Corrigan said he was president of the new union of European states; it was an unpaid position and he, as an Irish citizen, was living on a social security payment.
Judge Michael White said it appeared there were some financial difficulties and allowed the appeal, reversing the order of the District Court, which had fined Mr Corrigan £50 with £30 costs.
