Wedding vehicle owner fined for PSV licence breach in Longford
A wedding vehicle hire company owner who drove one of his vehicles despite not having the appropriate licences must pay €550 following his conviction in Longford District court.
Padraig Naughton of Johnstown, Cornafulla, Athlone, Roscommon was charged with committing two offences on September 9, 2022 at St Mel's Cathedral, Townspark, Longford.
Mr Naughton was charged with using a MPV for the carriage of a person for hire without an appropriate PSV licence, and with driving the vehicle without a PSV licence.
National Transport Authority officer John Kenny gave evidence to the court that he was on compliance duty on the date of the offence at 2:10pm.
Mr Kenny observed a wedding car in St Mel's Cathedral, but the vehicle registration was not linked to a registered driver. Further examination revealed that the PSV licence expired 11 days earlier.
The NTA officer spoke to the driver, Padraig Naughton, the owner of the vehicle.
He said Mr Naughton appeared genuinely surprised the vehicle's PSV licence had expired.
The defendant explained he had booked a PSV driver to drive the car for the wedding, but they cancelled that morning. The company owner felt he could not let down the wedding couple on their wedding day, so undertook to drive it despite not having a PSV licence.
Addressing the court Mr Naughton explained that it is difficult to get PSV drivers for weddings as it is a full day engagement.
The defendant said he took the PSV test himself, but failed. The court was told that although the car looks old it is a kit car, described as “a special occasion vehicle”.
Judge Bernadette Owens said to the NTA officer: “I hope you did not disturb the wedding party.”
Mr Kenny replied: “No, I waited until they were in the church.”
The defendant's solicitor told the court that all other documentation, including NCT, tax and insurance, were in place at the time.
The NTA legal representative said the cost of the prosecution was €300.
Taking the facts of the case into consideration Judge Owens imposed a fine of €250 with costs of €300 for using a MPV for the carriage of a person for hire without an appropriate PSV licence, the other charge was struck out.