Ireland Bus driver and owner fined over tachograph and rest-period breaches in Tullamore
On 31 October 2022 Garda Patrick McGee stopped a bus at the Bridge Centre, Tullamore, Co Offaly, driven by James Bracken (45) of Pullough, Tullamore, who had driven for 36 hours with a break of five hours. The bus owner, Damien Newman of Moystown, Shannon Harbour, Offaly, also faced charges over the failure to instruct the driver on daily rest periods and to ensure the recording equipment met regulations. The two men appeared before the district court over the use of a tachograph and the taking of mandatory rest periods, and each was fined €1,000, as reported on 8 October 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced8 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The driver, James Bracken, allegedly had no card in the tachograph and failed without reasonable excuse to keep a record of his driving.
- Where
- The bus was stopped at the Bridge Centre, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- When
- The bus was stopped on 31 October 2022.
- Cause
- Garda McGee said the driver had not taken sufficient rest periods and had driven for 36 hours with a five-hour break.
- Investigation
- Garda Patrick McGee stopped the bus.
- Charges
- The bus owner, Damien Newman, allegedly failed to instruct the driver to take daily rest periods and to ensure the recording equipment met regulations.
- In court
- The two men appeared at the district court over the use of a tachograph and the taking of mandatory rest periods; the article sub-headline instead refers to Tullamore Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- Each defendant was fined €1,000.
- Other details
- The judge said the driver had just five hours' sleep in 36 hours and that this was a serious risk to the public.
- James Bracken is 45 and of Pullough, Tullamore; Damien Newman is of Moystown, Shannon Harbour, Offaly.
9 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe driver had no card in the tachograph and failed to keep a record of his driving without reasonable excuse. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe stop took place at the Bridge Centre, Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe driver was stopped on October 31, 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeGarda McGee said the driver had not taken sufficient rest periods and had driven for 36 hours with a five-hour break. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGarda Patrick McGee stopped the bus. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeThe bus owner failed to instruct the driver to take daily rest periods and to ensure the recording equipment met regulations. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe two men appeared at the district court over the use of a tachograph and the taking of mandatory rest periods. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceEach defendant was fined €1,000. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge said the driver had just five hours' sleep in 36 hours and that this was a serious risk to the public. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Oct2023Man who drove for 36 hours with a break of just five hours appears in court
Court report on a single case with two defendants. The article's sub-headline says the men were arraigned at Tullamore Circuit Court, but the body says they appeared at the district court and were fined there.
convicted, James Bracken, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Brackenconvicted, Damien Newman, named, irish (judged from name)Damien Newman