‘Sorry isn’t good enough’, says judge
Carlow Court House. Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A BROKEN-down tractor was the reason that an ageing jeep with a roadworthiness certificate that had expired in December 2024 ended up on the road in Graiguecullen, a young Kildare man told Carlow District Court.
Andrew James Wall (22), Tankardstown, Athy, Co Kildare, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to two matters before Judge John King.
The court heard that at 11.14am on 4 May, Garda Hennessy was operating a checkpoint on the relief road at Graiguecullen when he stopped Mr Wall. The vehicle’s front registration plate was obstructed by a bar across it and it was further established that its certificate of roadworthiness (CRW) had expired in December 2024.
Mr Wall undertook to produce a valid certificate at Athy Garda Station within ten days but failed to do so. He has no previous convictions.
“What have you got to say?” Judge King asked Mr Wall.
“Sorry about that, judge,” he replied.
“Sorry isn’t good enough,” the judge retorted.
Mr Wall explained that they had bought a new jeep and were waiting for it to arrive. Asked whether the vehicle in question had been in use since 2024, he said it was “usually not on the road”, explaining that he normally used the tractor, but on this occasion the tractor wasn’t working.
“Do you use the tractor for about town, too?” quipped the judge.
“I’ve a car as well, judge,” Mr Wall said, explaining that the tractor and jeep were used in relation to livestock.
Asked by Judge King whether the vehicle had looked roadworthy when it was stopped, Garda Hennessy said it was “showing its age, but there was no defect I could see on the date in question”.
When the judge asked if the jeep had since been scrapped, Mr Wall said this would be done within the next six to eight weeks or “immediately, if needs be”.
“I’ll adjourn to 9 December in order for you to bring the certificate of scrapping of the vehicle to court,” said Judge King.
He ordered Mr Wall to contribute €500 to the court poor box and said that “if all is in order” he would strike out the matter. If not, he would convict and fine Mr Wall €500 for the expired CRW, taking the other matter into account.
