Oscar winner Glen Hansard fined for speeding

Oscar winning singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has been fined €150 after he was caught speeding in Dublin.

Hansard (44) of long-running Dublin band The Frames, who has also achieved success as a solo artist and as an actor, faced a charge under the Road Traffic Act. He has to pay the fine within three months or else he will be jailed for five days, Judge Gráinne O’Neill ordered.

He pleaded guilty to driving at 73 km/h in a 60km/h speed limit at the Palmerstown bypass on May 20th last year.

The critically acclaimed singer had originally appeared in court on this charge on May 21st last.

It was then indicated that he would receive a fine for the speeding offence.

However, the case was not finalised then and had to be adjourned for the musician to produce his driving licence in court, a standard procedure in speeding prosecutions.

Today, Hansard, dressed in a navy corduroy jacket and blue jeans, appeared before Judge O’Neill, who asked him, “Do you have your licence with you?”

With a George Orwell book tucked into his left jacket pocket, he nodded and held up his driver’s licence to show the judge who said: “Fine €150, three months to pay, five days in default.”

Hansard turned to a garda and asked, “Am I allowed go?” before the judge said “thank you” to the star who then left the courtroom.