An Armagh man who let an 11-year-old drive a tractor on a road has been fined and handed six penalty points.
Court heard that the 42-year-old had enlisted the help of the youngster to transport the vehicle between farms.
William Hughes, of Ballymoran Road, pleaded guilty to permitting no insurance at the city’s Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Court heard that on September 13, police spotted an 11-year-old boy in charge of a Massey Ferguson tractor on the Ballymoran Road.
They subsequently stopped the vehicle and spoke to the boy.
He told officers that he was helping his father and uncle transport the tractor between family farms.
Police later spoke to the defendant who confirmed he had asked the young boy to move the tractor and as they were related he was aware of the child’s inability to drive.
Defence solicitor Oisin Toner explained that he had been helping his father and had been moving the tractor for security purposes.
He added that the defendant accepted responsibility for allowing the young boy to drive.
Court heard that Hughes did have a record but had not come to police attention in some time.
The defendant was handed six penalty points and ordered to pay a fine of £250, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within eight weeks.
