Couple in court for failure to use tachograph on minibus stopped in Offaly
''Anyone who drives a mini-bus should know they require a tachograph,'' said Judge
A Kilkenny couple who planned to start their own minibus driving business appeared at Tullamore District Court.
In his evidence to the court Garda Patrick McGee said that on November 18, 2023, he stopped a minibus on the Lynally, Mucklagh, by-pass. The driver was Sandra Hogan (53) of Woodview, Freshford, Kilkenny. Ms Hogan, failed to produce a drivers card and a tachograph was not in use. The bus was owned by Gerard Watson of the same address. Mr Watson was charged with failing to issue the driver with sufficient paper for the tachograph.
The bus was being used to bring golfers from Kilkenny to Birr. Ms Hogan was on her way back to Birr to collect them.
Solicitor for the couple said Ms Hogan and Mr Watson were a married couple. They had been trying to set up a business but it never got off the ground. They returned the bus two days later, he said.
Sandra Hogan didn't know she needed a tachograph, her solicitor said. She had driven voluntarily for the wheelchair association and she didn't understand that she needed it, he said.
Gerard Watson is not in good health and had a kidney removed and is in receipt of illness benefit.
He has significant health difficulties. Neither party had previous convictions.
Judge Andrew Cody said anyone who drives a mini-bus should know they require a tachograph.
He fined Sandra Hogan €400 for not using a tachograph and Gerard Watson was also fined €400 for not providing the paper required.
The solicitor for the couple applied for legal aid but Judge Cody said that they were in business.
However, after a statement of means was handed in to the court the judge granted legal aid.