Tractor owner but not driver in court after brake failure caused crash on Laois Offaly border

A man who owned a tractor that he was not driving when the brakes failed causing a crash on the Laois Offaly border ended up before Tullamore district court over his responsibility for the vehicle's maintenance.

James Wallace, Cushina, Portarlington, Co Laois, was in court arsing from a crash on January 25, 2020 at Rathangan Road, Bracknagh, Offaly.

The Court heard that the tractor brakes failed and it collided with a van. The driver was not the owner and he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Instead, Mr Wallace was held responsible as he was the owner of the vehicle. The court heard that Mr Wallace's father had become unwell leaving him shorthanded. He was unaware that the brakes were faulty and would never have given it to anyone to drive if he had known.

The court heard that he was a married man with no previous convictions. He had a letter from the Bracknagh tractor run showing how much money he had raised from the tractor runs in the past.

Judge Andrew Cody fined him €300.