Laois bus operator fined €3,000 for motoring offences - Courts - Laois Nationalist

The man pleaded guilty to having no large public service licence (owner)

A LAOIS bus operator was fined a total of €3,000 for motoring offences at last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

Michael Dempsey (66), 17 Grenall, Borris-in-Ossory pleaded guilty to allowing the use of a public service vehicle for carriage of persons for reward; guilty to having no large public service licence (owner); and guilty to having no road tax at Stradbally Road, Portlaoise on 9 June last year.

Noting the issue had been before the court on previous occasions, Judge Andrew Cody said: “It’s a guilty plea now. First, it was guilty. Then not guilty and now it’s guilty.” He asked the prosecuting garda Mahony to proceed with his evidence.

Garda Mahony said while on duty on Stradbally Road, he came across a large number of passengers sitting on a bus. Inspecting the bus, he found the tax had expired on it and that the driver was not the owner.

Mr Dempsey said the bus was parked at the time. He said it was a 23-year-old bus, the PSV licence had expired on it, hence the reason why it “couldn’t be taxed.” Garda Mahony rejected that the bus was parked at the time.

He said: “It was driving on the road. It was bringing children from school. It was a 46-seater bus.” Judge Cody convicted Mr Dempsey of the three offences and fined him €1,000 on each.