Senator fined €1,850 over car tax after claming her Merc was off the road

Date Published: 19-Dec-2012

A Galway Senator, who attempted to evade paying motor tax by making a false declaration that her car was off the road, was fined €1,850 for three counts of driving without tax in March, June and July this year.

Fidelma Healy Eames (51), of Maree, Oranmore, was not at Galway District Court when the case was called yesterday, but pleaded guilty through her solicitor.

In view of this plea, the State withdrew one of five summonses against her – for making a false declaration at Oranmore Garda Station, on May 21, that her 2006 Mercedes was off the road, contrary to Section 63 of the Finance Act 1993.

Garda Garrett Cafferkey told the court that he was on his way to work just before 5pm on March 10 last when, at Inn Plot, Oranmore, he observed a woman driving with a mobile phone up to her left ear.

He recognised her as Senator Healy Eames, and noted that there was a young female passenger in the front seat with her.

“I went to work and issued a fixed charge (for holding a mobile phone), which was paid, and I checked the tax on the Garda pulse system – it had expired in January 2012,” the Garda said.

The court heard that Garda Cafferkey saw the defendant driving again on June 23 at Seafield, Maree. Again, he did not stop the vehicle but checked the Pulse system to check the status of the car’s motor tax. The vehicle was still untaxed, however.

See full court report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.