Driver fined for graveyard trip during lockdown
A man who was driving to a graveyard in Ballinrobe while the country was in lockdown ‘took off in a fit of temper’ when stopped by Gardaí, Tuam District Court was told.
John Cleary (44), with an address at 33 Glenbawn Estate, Ballybane, was before Judge Alan Mitchell for an alleged breach of Covid-19 travel restrictions on March 11.
Cleary, who pleaded guilty to the offence, was stopped by Garda Michelle Hallinan at Carrownurlaur, Miltown at 1.42pm on the date in question.
Garda Hallinan told the court Cleary was accompanied in the car by three passengers – one of whom was his mother.
The defendant said he was bringing his mother to visit her brother’s grave in Ballinrobe at the time and had continued with his journey as Garda Hallinan ‘said she was giving me a Covid fine either way’.
Prosecuting Sergeant Stan O’Grady noted that travelling through Milltown wasn’t a typical route for travelling to Ballinrobe.
Judge Mitchell said Cleary had been lucky Garda Hallinan was not waiting to get him for a second offence on the return leg of his journey as she was ‘a very diligent garda’.
The defendant had €100 bail money lodged with the court and Judge Mitchell said he would add a further €100 to this, convicting and fining him €200 for the offence and giving six months to pay.
The court heard that there was a ‘Class A’ fine for this offence which could be up to €5,000. But because Cleary pleaded guilty, Judge Mitchell said he would not impose a fine at the higher end of the scale.
“It was an expensive journey. I hope the other passengers will help you to pay,” he said.