Longford tractor driver who held up traffic while on his mobile phone is fined €1,500

An uninsured tractor driver who had no license plate or tax on his vehicle and was detected by gardaí on his mobile phone and ‘obstructed traffic’ has been convicted and received fines totalling €1,500.
Patrick 'PJ' Brady of Edenmore, Ballinamuck, Longford pleaded guilty to the offences at Gelsha, Ballinalee on July 8, 2023.

Sergeant Mark Mahon said Gardaí observed the defendant driving a tractor slowly at 4.30pm with no registration plates and he was ‘obstructing traffic on a narrow country road’.

The court heard the defendant was also using a mobile phone and there was said to have been ample room to pull in and allow traffic to pass, however, he persisted in driving in this manner.
Sgt Mahon said Gardaí used an audible warning device, but eventually they had to activate the siren to alert him to pull over before they spoke to the defendant.

Gardaí made a demand to Mr Brady to produce his certificate of insurance or excemption within 10 days at a garda station of his choice.
The defendant nominated Granard Garda Station but he failed to produce the documents.
Sgt Mahon said a fixed chare penalty notice was also issued to Mr Brady for using a mobile phone, but that went unpaid.

Mr Brady had seven previous convictions, including two previous convictions for driving without insurance.
Solicitor Bríd Mimnagh said her client who works as an agriculture contractor had been under pressure following the sudden death of a close family member.
“He had seven or eight tractors and the only reason this tractor was uninsured was because it hadn't a chassis number and he had to get that to get the insurance.”

Judge Bernadette Owens convicted him and imposed a fine of €700 for driving without insurance with three months to pay and a €350 fine for having no license plate displayed with three months to pay.
Mr Brady was also given a €450 fine for driving without tax and given five months to pay with the other offences taken into consideration.