Tax out for six years on van driven by Offaly man (74)

THE tax on a van driven by a 74-year-old man from Birr in August last year was out since March 2019, a garda told Tullamore District Court.

Garda Conor Muldoon said he observed a 2004 Westmeath registered black Citroen Berlingo at Townsend Street, Townparks, Birr on August 22, 2025 and a fixed charge notice was issued but unpaid.

Garda Muldoon said the van was seized and never reclaimed.

Patrick Martin, solicitor for the driver, Tom Brophy, Sandymount Crest, Birr, said his client was a man with no previous convictions who was surprised to hear the tax was out.

Mr Martin said the man had attempted to pay the fine before the matter went to court but had not submitted the form correctly and then went to a solicitor as soon as he could.

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The solicitor added that Mr Brophy's wife died soon after the incident and his client, a father of four adult children, now had a car.

Garda Muldoon told the court the van was in a poor state of repair and had moss on its bonnet and “might have been sitting for a while”.

Judge Andrew Cody imposed a fine of €500, saying the man was lucky not to be disqualified because there was no tax on the vehicle for six years.