Driver fined for not having toddler in car safety seat

A man has been fined €300 for failing to restrain a toddler with a child safety belt in his car.

Repeat offender, Robert Grancia (25), 41 An Turnog, Headford Road, Galway, told his solicitor when she phoned him about the case that he wouldn’t bother coming to court, as he would only get a fine anyway.

Garda Barry Hughes said he stopped Grancia’s car on September 9 last year after he saw a two-year-old child in the rear seat with no seat restraint.

Judge Mary Fahy recalled Grancia had previous convictions for similar offences and she had asked he appear in court last week after he had failed to appear at an earlier court sitting.

Judge Fahy asked if he was in court and then answered herself by saying that of course he wasn’t. “He hasn’t a notion of coming into court,” she said.

Defence solicitor, Valerie Corcoran said she phoned Grancia the previous day to remind him to come to court, but he told her he wouldn’t bother as he knew he would just get a fine anyway.

Judge Fahy she was reluctant to disqualify Grancia for the moment, but she fined him €300 for not having the child in a proper child restraint, €200 for not having a driving licence and €100 for failing to produce his documents.