A man who was stopped by gardai whilst driving a busload of Bower girls without either insurance or licence, left court this week without a conviction against his name after he and his employer made a €1,250 contribution to the Childrens’ Hospital in Crumlin.
Frank Dolan (54 ) of Halls Bridge, Athlone initially appeared in court last June to plead guilty to the charges after being stopped on a school run to Kiltoom at Bogganfin last January 14.
At his June appearance, Mr Dolan’s solicitor told the court how his client, a taxi driver, stepped in to assist a personnel problem for his employer, John Brennan, after the regular bus driver suffered a bereavement.
When stopped, Dolan did not have insurance, road tax or a certificate of roadworthiness displayed and he wasn't wearing his seatbelt.
Also, these documents were not presented to a Garda station of Dolan's choice within 10 days, as required by law.
This week (December 2 ), after defending solicitor Dara Hayden outlined his client’s straitened financial circumstances, Judge John Neilan said he wouldn’t push punitive fines considering the offer brought to court.
“To some extent Mr Dolan believed unwittingly he could drive that day, before he was stopped by Garda Harrison,” said the judge.
“I just can’t separate children from human beings, because we’re all human beings, but you must engage maximum welfare when driving children.
“Mr Dolan can be under no illusions about his obligations when driving public service vehicles, whether it be old age pensioners or children,” he said, before giving Dolan the benefit of the Probation Act.
