Lorry driver is fined €1,000

LORRY driver Patrick Sinnott from Heavenstown, Murrintown was hit with a fine of €1,000 after admitting that he held Irish and UK driver cards at the same time.

Such cards are used to operate tachograph equipment which record driver working hours and rest periods.

The District Court was given evidence by Road Safety Authority inspector Seamus Lynch of his investigations.

The evidence was that an Irish card was issued to Sinnott in 2013 but he later applied successfully to the UK authorities for one there.

The correct procedure would have been to exchange the Irish card for the UK card.

The matter came to light when he returned to Ireland and applied again for an Irish card.

Defending solicitor Warren Parkes maintained that his client was advised incorrectly that he needed a UK card if he wanted to work out of the Tesco depot in Dagenham.

Mr Parkes also pointed out that there was no evidence that the accused driver had abused the situation.

The court was told that Sinnott currently works part-time as a driver.

However, he hopes to return to Australia to drive lorries there and so he was worried about the likely effect of such a conviction on his plans

Judge John Cheatle was not minded to extend the benefit of the Probation Act, instead imposing a conviction with the €1,000 fine.