Portlaoise Court: Man in a van fined €500
Portlaoise Courthouse
WHILE gardaí were on mobile patrol along Grattan Street, Clonminam Road, Portlaoise on 11 October last, they came across a man holding a mobile phone while he was driving.
They issued him with a fixed charge penalty notice which went unpaid.
That was the evidence outlined at Portlaoise District Court last week, when 21-year old John Authur Donohoe from Andrew Meadows, Athy, Kildare pleaded guilty to the offence.
He had no previous convictions.
Asked by Judge Andrew Cody what type of vehicle the defendant was driving when he was stopped, the prosecuting garda said: “A van. A white Ford van.”
“What did he need a big white van for?” asked the judge.
Defending barrister Andrew Dunne said: “He was out shopping. He didn't own the van. It was his mother's and he is a named driver.”
Judge Cody replied: “You don't need a big white van to go shopping. Do you think we're all fools here?”
He went on to convict Mr Donohoe of the road traffic offence and fined him €500.
