Boyd Barrett spared conviction despite admitting speeding offence

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett was spared a conviction yesterday despite admitting a speeding offence.

He appeared at Dublin District Court after a summons was issued when he failed to pay a fixed penalty notice.

Garda Ronan Moore said Mr Boyd Barrett had been driving at "86km/h in a 60km/h zone" at the Stillorgan Road in Dublin last year.The TD got into the witness box and said "guilty" when Judge Clare Leonard asked him how he was pleading.

Judge Leonard then proceeded to make her order and said “€100 fine, three months to pay, one day in default of payment”.

The politician, who represented himself, then told her he was fully accepting responsibility but pointed out he did not get the original fixed penalty notice.

A fixed penalty notice for speeding was sent to a Killiney address on Mr Boyd Barrett's licence and it "went unpaid", Garda Moore explained. The 45-year-old TD for the Dún Laoghaire constituency told the court the address on his licence was an old one and related to a flat he used to rent but he had left it three years ago, "I did not receive the fixed penalty notice," he explained. "Five or six weeks ago I did get the summons notice," he added.

“In those circumstances, I will strike it out,” Judge Leonard said.