Offaly man in court after juvenile crashed his uninsured tractor into van

A man appeared in court after a juvenile crashed his new tractor into a van in Laois last year.

Gary Harte, 24, with an address at Ballycue, Geashill, Co Offaly admitted being the owner of an uninsured tractor at Tirhogar, Portarlington in Laois on August 8 last year.

The court was told Gardai responded to a call about a collision between a New Holland tractor and a vehicle on the date. The driver was a juvenile and the defendant was the owner. The tractor was uninsured.

Defence Counsel Aine Rushe BL said her client had purchased the tractor just days before the collision. The defendant had been driving in front of the tractor when the collision occurred.

A garda said the owner of the other vehicle had been compensated. The defendant had no previous convictions.

“He bought a new van for them,” the garda explained.

The court was told the tractor was insured within an hour and a half of the collision.

Ms Rushe said her client is employed in farming and needed his licence to work.

Judge Andrew Cody fined the man €300 and said he wouldn’t impose a disqualification as it was a first offence.