Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 23525Using a mobile phone while driving · Co. Laois · 21 Jun 2022

Man fined €250 for using mobile phone while driving tractor in Portlaoise

Rian Daniel Martin, 19, of Thurles, was fined €250 at Portlaoise District Court after mistakenly pleading not guilty to using a mobile phone while driving a Fendt tractor on the Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise on 21 June 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant was stopped for using a mobile phone while driving a Fendt tractor (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred on the Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 21 June 2022 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe defendant was fined €250 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant initially pleaded not guilty (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant acknowledged he should have pleaded guilty after hearing Garda evidence of admissions (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherJudge Cody remarked on the danger of distracted driving (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Dec2022
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Mistakenly pleaded not guilty at Portlaoise court

    Reports the court outcome: the defendant initially pleaded not guilty but acknowledged the error after hearing Garda evidence of admissions, and was fined €250 by Judge Andrew Cody.

    convicted, Rian Daniel Martin, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Rian Daniel Martin