Tipperary judge has 'great sympathy' for the people of Afghanistan

An Afghani man who failed to pay a motoring fine on time had the case against him dismissed at Nenagh Court

Murteza Sidiqi of 103 Newtown House, Henry Street, Limerick, had been issued a fixed charge penalty notice for crossing a continuous white line at Ballinamurra, Nenagh, on December 11, 2020.

However, he had gone back to Afghanistan on holidays and his brother was to pay the charge.

In the meantime, a second penalty notice for a different offence in another part of the country arrived and his brother only paid one of the charges. When Mr Sidiqi went to pay the Nenagh penalty notice, it was out of time.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath asked if he was from Afghanistan originally and Mr Sidiqi replied he was.

“I have great sympathy for the people of Afghanistan at this time. I am satisfied he made an effort to pay the charge,” she said.

Judge MacGrath dismissed the summons.