Inconsiderate tractor driver caused sevenmile tailback on n5

A TRACTOR driver who caused a seven mile tailback on a national primary road involving between 80 and 100 vehicles has been fined €300 and banned from driving for a year by a District Court judge.

Judge Mary Devins was told by Garda John Boyle at Castlebar District Court that on June 20 last he came across “a convoy” of vehicles travelling eastwards on the N5 outside Westport which were held up by a tractor towing a trailer which contained a mechanical digger.

Garda Boyle gave evidence that after overtaking between 80 and 100 vehicles he got to the tractor and trailer which was keeping traffic to about 20 kilometres per hour.

The witness said that when he spoke to the tractor driver, Brian McGuinness, The Grove, Castlebar, the defendant told him he thought he had pulled in earlier to let traffic go by.

Garda Boyle said that when he told the tractor driver he would be “getting a ticket”, he replied: “Sound.” However, the garda witness said the fixed charge notice issue had never been paid.

The defendant, McGuinness, did not appear in court to answer the charge.

Judge Devins commented that everybody has to exercise a little consideration on the road.

She added that the evidence of Garda Boyle about having to pass 80-100 vehicle was most dramatic in nature.

The judge fined McGuinness €300 in his absence and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.