Ireland Couple fined over tachograph failure on minibus stopped in Offaly
On 18 November 2023 Garda Patrick McGee stopped a minibus on the Lynally, Mucklagh by-pass in County Offaly, where the driver, Sandra Hogan (53) of Woodview, Freshford, Kilkenny, did not produce a drivers card and no tachograph was in use. The bus owner, Gerard Watson of the same address, was charged with failing to issue the driver with sufficient tachograph paper. Both appeared at Tullamore District Court, where the defence said the driver did not know she needed a tachograph and the judge granted legal aid after a statement of means was handed in. Hogan and Watson were each fined €400, as reported on 15 and 16 July 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 Jul
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Sandra Hogan, aged 53, was the driver of the minibus, and she did not produce a drivers card.
- No tachograph was in use in the minibus when it was stopped.
- Where
- The minibus was stopped on the Lynally, Mucklagh by-pass in County Offaly.
- When
- Garda Patrick McGee stopped the minibus on 18 November 2023.
- Cause
- The minibus was being used to bring golfers from Kilkenny to Birr, according to the key facts.
- Investigation
- Garda Patrick McGee gave evidence in court about stopping the minibus.
- Charges
- Gerard Watson, the bus owner, was charged with failing to issue the driver with sufficient tachograph paper.
- The offences were failure to use a tachograph and failure to provide tachograph paper.
- In court
- The case was heard at Tullamore District Court, where the couple appeared.
- Sentence
- Hogan was fined €400 for not using a tachograph, and Watson was fined €400 for not providing the required paper. The 15 July 2024 report and the key facts give fines, but the 16 July 2024 headline refers to a suspended sentence while its body text gives fines.
- Other details
- The defence said the driver did not know she needed a tachograph.
- According to the defence, the bus was returned two days after the stop.
- The judge granted legal aid after a statement of means was handed in.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe driver did not produce a drivers card and a tachograph was not in use. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe minibus was stopped on the Lynally, Mucklagh by-pass. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe stop took place on 18 November 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe garda stopped the minibus on 18 November 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeThe bus was being used to bring golfers from Kilkenny to Birr. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeThe driver did not produce a drivers card and no tachograph was in use. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGarda Patrick McGee stopped the minibus and gave evidence in court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeGerard Watson, the bus owner, was charged with failing to provide sufficient tachograph paper. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeThe bus owner was charged with failing to issue the driver with sufficient paper for the tachograph. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe couple appeared at Tullamore District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceSandra Hogan was fined €400 for not using a tachograph, and Gerard Watson was fined €400 for not providing the required paper. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceSandra Hogan was fined €400 for not using a tachograph. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceGerard Watson was fined €400 for not providing the paper required. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe defence said the driver did not know she needed a tachograph. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe bus was returned two days after the stop, according to the defence. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge granted legal aid after a statement of means was handed in. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Jul2024Couple in court for failure to use tachograph on minibus stopped in Offaly
First report of this court case. Gives the court outcome: a €400 fine for each defendant. The headline mentions a suspended sentence, but the body text does not.
convicted, Sandra Hogan, 53, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sandra Hoganconvicted, Gerard Watson, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard Watson - 15 Jul2024Kilkenny couple in court for failure to use tachograph on minibus
Court report of the sentencing: Sandra Hogan and Gerard Watson were each fined €400 at Tullamore District Court, and the judge granted legal aid after a statement of means was handed in.
convicted, Sandra Hogan, 53, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sandra Hoganconvicted, Gerard Watson, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard Watson