Several people caught smoking on Dublin buses appeared before the District Court yesterday but fines were not imposed on any of them. However Judge Claire Leonard warned each of seven defendants she did not want to see them reoffend.
She said smoking on buses caused distress to people with asthma and other respiratory difficulties. "Have you no idea how damaging it can be for other people?" she asked them.
Mr Michael Buckley, an inspector with Dublin Bus, gave evidence of taking the names and addresses of a number of people smoking on the 78A bus to Liffey Valley during April.
After hearing a number of the cases, Judge Leonard asked if everyone on the bus was smoking. "It's bad enough to have one person smoking but with so many smoking God help anybody on that bus," she commented. Those caught smoking on the 78A included Ms Amanda Ennis, Garryowen Road, Ballyfermot; Mr Andrew Nolan (19), Greenford Gardens, Clondalkin; and two 16-year-old boys who cannot be named because of their age. A number of further cases were adjourned to October. Ms Ennis and Mr Nolan, who pleaded guilty, were given the Probation Act.
Evidence was also given of two men smoking on a 13A bus. They are: Mr Mark Canavan, Woodfarm Acres, Palmerstown; and Mr Gerard Dunne, Rendu Apartments, North William Street.
Judge Leonard said these defendants were older and she would have expected them to comply with no smoking regulations. She applied the Probation Act in respect of each, but ordered them to enter a €100 bond to be of good behaviour for one year.
A similar penalty was imposed on Mr Anthony Keogh, Virginia Park, Finglas, who admitted smoking on a 40A bus.
In a separate but related case, a security man with Iarnród Éireann, Mr Robbie Reid, gave evidence of seeing a student smoking on the DART at Tara Street on March 22nd at 9.45 p.m. When he pointed out the no-smoking signs to Mr Michael Walsh (19), Mangerton Road, Drimnagh, the young man stubbed his cigarette on a seat, causing €100 damage.
Mr Walsh, in evidence, claimed he was not on the train at the time. Mr Reid said he had no doubt Mr Walsh was there. Judge Leonard fined him €100 for malicious damage to Iarnród Éireann furniture and ordered him to pay €100 compensation and €40 costs.
A spokesman for Dublin Bus said the company would spare no effort to stamp out smoking on buses.