Man was driving dangerously defective van in Laois

A man who admitted driving a dangerously defective van in Laois revealed its engine died a week later.

Edwin Pratt (63) of Portlaoise Road, Abbeyleix, admitted driving a dangerously defective vehicle at Spa Hill, Mountrath on April 27, 2024. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby gave a picture of the van to Judge John Brennan and said “a picture paints a thousand words.” 

He told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the van “fell out of the definition of a dangerous vehicle” due to its condition. He said the defendant had no previous convictions. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client had lost his wife in tragic circumstances. He said the man runs a company which deals in agricultural machinery servicing. 

He said the man had just purchased the vehicle that day and was driving it home to extract the engine. He said the engine broke down a week later. 

“He should have made a decision to put it on a low loader,” said Mr Meagher. 

Judge John Brennan noted the brake discs on the van were very badly corroded. “It was in quite a state,” he said. 

“There could have been a serious accident,” said Judge Brennan. 

However, he noted the defendant wasn’t planning to drive it on a regular basis. 

He convicted the defendant and fined him €300. The money was paid over immediately at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.