Nobody wearing seat belts in 'death trap' Offaly van

A FORD Transit was full of adults and children who weren't wearing seat belts, Tullamore Circuit Court heard.

Garda Pat McGee gave evidence of stopping a Transit at Leabeg, Boora on January 1, 2025 at 10.10am.

It was being driven by Igor Sili, Lough House View, Sragh Road, Tullamore and among the large number of people in it was an “adult female” who was sitting in a folding garden chair.

There was a nine-year-old child and a 10-year-old child and an adult holding a child on their knee and none of them were wearing seat belts.

A seat belt was locked into its knuckle to prevent the alarm from going off, Garda McGee added.

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Garda McGee said: “If the vehicle was involved in an accident there would be serious injuries to a huge amount of people.”

The garda said that Mr Sili produced a Romanian driving licence but should have had an Irish one.

The man had transferred a Moldovan licence to a Romanian one but that was not recognised by the Road Safety Authority.

Garda McGee said the driver was prosecuted for dangerous driving. Another person came along to pick up the “excess people”, he added.

He was giving evidence when Mr Sili lodged an appeal against the severity of the penalties imposed on him when he was originally convicted in the District Court.

At that court the man had been fined €1,500 and disqualified from driving for three years.

David Nugent, BL, representing Mr Sili, told the Circuit Court the man needed a driving licence because he had a job lined up in construction. He had paid the fine.

Sandra Mahon, Offaly state solicitor, told Judge Johnson that he had no discretion in relation to imposing a disqualification for dangerous driving.

While the District Court had disqualified Mr Sili for three years, the mandatory term of disqualification was two years.

Judge Johnson said Garda McGee had done everyone a favour, including Mr Sili. He said the child in the van would have been “like a missile”.

“This was absolutely a death trap, that's all I can describe it as,” said the judge.

Affirming the order of the District Court, he said he could see no merit in the appeal.

When the case came before Tullamore District Court in September Mr Sili's solicitor, Brian Duffy, said his client was travelling with his family to an important ceremony.

“Unfortunately his brother's car broke down as the two vehicles were travelling to the ceremony, therefore those in his brother's car moved into his van,” said Mr Duffy.

On the day of the offence An Garda Siochana Laois/Offaly posted a message on its Facebook page with photographs of the seating in what was described as a “commercial van”.

The post said: “This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of road safety laws and the severe risks posed by improper seating and lack of seat belt use. These laws are in place to protect everyone, especially vulnerable passengers like children.

“Parents and drivers, we urge you to prioritise the safety of your passengers. Ensure all passengers, regardless of age, are seated properly and restrained according to the law.”