Judge asks if uninsured Offaly driver is 'working in a meat factory'

BRAZILIAN uninsured drivers working in meat factories is a “recurring problem”, Judge Andrew Cody told Tullamore District Court.

Judge Cody was commenting when Joao Pedro Gomes Da Silva (28), Carraig Ean, Edenderry, was summonsed for driving without insurance.

Garda Damien Fleming told the court he stopped Mr Da Silva at St Mary's Road, Edenderry on August 16 last year.

Garda Fleming said there was an insurance policy on the 2006 Dublin registered vehicle but it did not cover the driver.

Mr Da Silva said the vehicle was registered to a friend. The man had no previous convictions.

Brian Duffy, solicitor for the accused, entered a guilty plea and said what happened seemed to have become increasingly prevalent “with people from Brazil”.

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Mr Duffy said his client's friend told him he could use the car. It appeared that it is common in Brazil that it is the car that is insured.

The solicitor added that if Mr Da Silva had been in Ireland for “six years” he would say he was in trouble but he'd been here for nine months and has no English and was being helped by a friend.

Judge Andrew Cody asked: “Is he working in a meat factory?”

Mr Duffy replied: “How did you guess that?”

“Aren't they all,” remarked the judge.

Mr Duffy said his client was working and contributing to society and he asked for him to be given “one opportunity” and not disqualify him.

Judge Cody asked if a road check had ever been done at the front of Rosderra Meats and was told by Garda Fleming that it had not.

“I wouldn't think there'd be too many cars leaving, would there?” said the judge, adding that it was a “significant problem”.

He said it would be no harm if the owners and operators of that factory in Edenderry “gave a little bit of education” to their Brazilian employees.

“It's a recurring theme and a recurring problem in a number of meat factories and Brazilian workers.”

He imposed a fine of €1,000, giving the man three months to pay. He did not disqualify him from driving.