HGV driver told he was a danger to himself by driving excess hours

A driver who was told by a judge that he was a danger to himself and other road users by driving excess hours on a heavy goods vehicle has since paid up a charity donation and legal costs.

Pawel Rudenco, with an address at Athlumney Abbey in Navan had appeared at Navan District Court in June in a prosecution taken by the Road Safety Authority for eight alleged breaches of driving laws on 29th February 2024.

Solicitor David McEntee had prosecuted on behalf of the RSA and said that a tachograph had been downloaded and found that the accused had been driving for four and a half hours without a break. Other driving hours included 17 hours and 17 minutes, eight hours and five minutes and seen hours and five minutes, all without a break.

The defendant had told the court that he was pleading guilty. He said that he supported a partner and a disabled child.

Judge McKiernan said that the matter was a very serious one but she struck out the charges on the basis that the accused pay a €300 donation to MCDAR along with €886 costs of bringing the case.

Last Friday Mr McEntee told Judge McKiernan that all had been paid and she struck the matter out.