Bus driver banned after parking dangerously opposite Offaly public house

AN Offaly bus driver was accused of “absolutely disgraceful behaviour” by Judge Keenan Johnson at Tullamore Circuit Court.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court that on May 23 last Brendan Mangan (62), Barnaboy, Daingean was identified on CCTV as the driver of a bus which was parked on High Street opposite the Brewery Tap public house.

The bus had about 20 passengers, about 18 years of age, who Sergeant Thornton believed were drinking in the pub following a Leaving Certificate Mass.

Sandra Mahon, Offaly State Solicitor, said Mr Mangan had previously given an undertaking when he was in court for a separate matter that he would not drive until he received a certificate of competency and a medical certificate.

Sergeant Thornton said the bus had been dangerously parked and the driver should have parked on the Brewery Tap side of the street and could have done so by driving up High Street to the roundabout and coming back down.

Because of how Mr Mangan parked the bus its passenger door was facing out onto the main carriageway and that presented a risk.

He said he issued a fixed charge notice for dangerous parking which would incur a fine of €60 and three penalty points.

Suzanne Dooner, BL, representing Mr Mangan, said his son Brian is manager of the bus company and on the date the vehicle had been seen by Sergeant Thornton, Brian Mangan was out of the country.

Ms Dooner said Mr Mangan did not believe the order of the court applied until penalty points were activated.

Judge Keenan Johnson said there had been a complete breach of trust in the court and he imposed a two-year disqualification.

That ban was imposed in relation to a previous conviction for using a vehicle without a certificate of roadworthiness.

Mr Mangan had successfully appealed against a conviction for driving a dangerously defective vehicle.

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