Mayor fined for obstructing Tuam traffic

TUAM'S first citizen, Mayor Mary Loftus was fined €700 at the local District Court when she was convicted on two traffic charges. One was for not having tax on her vehicle and the other was for causing an obstruction with her vehicle at Bishop Street on April 18 last. [private] Judge Geoffrey Browne was told the Mayor's car was found parked on a double yellow line and causing an obstruction for traffic coming off the Square roundabout. The prosecuting Garda told the Court that Cllr Loftus, of Marley, Tuam, approached him as he was writing out the fixed charge ticket. He asked her why her car was not taxed and she replied: 'The way things are going I didn't have the chance to pay it.' The Judge asked if she had caused much of a problem for other motorists and was told by the Garda 'it was a fairly serious obstruction.' A fine of €350 was imposed for no tax and a further fine of €350 was imposed on the obstruction charge. [/private]