'Flagrant breach' of road traffic laws in Offaly

FINES totalling €1,000 and an order to complete 40 hours of community service were imposed on a young Romanian man for road traffic offences.

Garda David Lewis gave evidence of stopping a 2007 Wicklow registered Ford Focus at Main Street, Kylebeg, Banagher on July 10 last year.

The driver, Adin Iacobut (19), Garrycastle, Banagher was a learner and had no previous convictions but had no NCT, licence, insurance, 'L' plates or accompanying driver.

Pleas of guilty were entered by defending solicitor Patrick Martin who said Mr Iacobut was a Romanian who had been in Ireland for eight years and had struggled to pass the driver theory test.

A factory employee, he had driven the short distance and apologised to the gardai.

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Judge Susan Fay noted the number of different offences and described it as a “flagrant breach”.

She fined him €200 for having no NCT, €300 for no 'L' plates and €500 for no accompanying driver.

Judge Fay also said he would have to be assessed for community service and if deemed suitable he would have to complete 40 hours in lieu of three months in prison for the insurance offence.

She adjourned the matter to April 14 for the community service assessment.