A Ballina man, when pulled over by a garda after he was observed driving while holding a mobile phone, continued to talk on his mobile even as the garda attempted to speak to him.
On January 16 2011, a garda observed Martin Collins, 121 Abbey Street, Killala Road, Ballina, on his mobile while driving a car. The patrol car’s blue lights were activated and Collins came to a stop. When the garda approached Collins he observed the defendant was still on the phone and Collins remained on his phone while the garda asked him to wind down the window.
The defendant claimed that he remained on his mobile as he had received a threatening phone call following a serious family incident earlier that day.
A fixed charge notice which was issued was not paid. Judge Mary Devins convicted and fined him €150.
