A Waterford man was recently handed a court fine for holding his mobile phone while driving.
Thomas Noonan (36) with an address at 2 Pine Cove, Dunmore East, Waterford, appeared before Judge Miriam Walsh at a recent sitting of Waterford District Court for failing to pay a fixed charge penalty notice which was issued to him after Gardaí observed him holding his mobile phone while driving near Pickardstown, Tramore, on 16 February 2025.
While there was proof of postage of the fixed charge penalty notice presented to the court, solicitor Kenneth Cunningham, who was acting for the defendant, noted that it was sent to a different address to the one that appears on Mr Noonan’s driving licence.
Mr Cunningham stated that although this was the address provided to Gardaí by Mr Noonan, it is his family home and there is a Dublin address on his licence. He said that his client is “on the road a lot” for work, and “heavily dependent” on his licence for this reason. He also highlighted that Mr Noonan has no previous convictions.
Judge Miriam Walsh issued the defendant with a €250 fine and imposed no disqualification.
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