Tractor trouble: Limerick farmer with 'bit of an attitude' refused to stop for gardaí

A LIMERICK farmer who refused to pull over his New Holland tractor for gardai while driving through a busy town  was convicted of careless driving when he appeared before the local court. 

Peter O’Mahony, aged 30, with an address at Glenfield house, Kilmallock, came before Judge Patricia Harney for refusing to stop for gardaí while driving his tractor through the town on October 21.  

Prosecuting Inspector Gearóid Thompson told Kilmallock District Court there was “no element of speed given the time of day” and also because of the nature of the vehicle that Peter O’Mahony was driving.

He said instead of stopping the tractor for gardaí, the defendant drove his tractor back to his farm. 

The court heard that Mr O’Mahony has 11 previous convictions - including two connected to a hit and run incident. He also has a conviction for assault causing harm, public order, refusing to give his address to gardaí and several road traffic infractions.   

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Mr O’Mahony's solicitor said that he is a young man, thirty years old. Judge Harney replied that “he seems to have a bit of an attitude”. 

The solicitor said in mitigation that “I don’t think you will see him in the court again” and he pleaded to the judge not to disqualify his client from driving as farming means he “needs to drive for a living”. 

Judge Harney said that “gardaí are going to bat for him” and that he is “lucky” that gardaí had not charged him with a more serious offence.

Mr O’Mahony was convicted of an offence under section 52 road traffic offence and fined €500, with three months to pay.

Exercising her discretion, the judge did not impose a disqualification.

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