Man in court in Tullamore after brakes failed on tractor causing collision

THE brakes failed in a tractor being driven by a man who didn't own the vehicle.

Before last week's Tullamore district court was James Wallace, Cushina, Portarlington, Laois.

On January 25, 2020 at Rathangan Road, Bracknagh, Offaly, a man had been driving the tractor when the brakes failed and it collided with a van.

The driver was not the owner and he was cleared of any wrongdoing. James Wallace 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.

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.