Broadcaster Vincent Browne fined for holding phone while driving

Journalist and broadcaster Vincent Browne was fined €300 in his absence yesterday when he forgot to turn up to court to face prosecution for driving a car while holding a mobile phone.

Judge Alan Mitchell ordered that the fine must be paid within three months otherwise the host of TV3 current affairs programme Tonight with Vincent Browne will be jailed for five days in default.

A summons had been issued for Browne to appear at Dublin District Court to face a charge for holding a mobile phone while driving a car on the M50 at Ballymount in Dublin on May 14th last year, contrary to section 3.1 of the 2006 Road Traffic Act.

His name, date of birth and an address at Coliemore Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin were called out by the court registrar during the brief proceedings but Browne was not there and had no representation. Judge Mitchell then proceeded to deal with the case without him and imposed the fine.

Browne, a 68-year-old qualified barrister and a columnist with The Irish Times , had been holding a mobile phone while driving a 05-registered Mitsubishi Colt near the TV3 studios.

“I had it in my diary but I completely forgot. I rang my daughter who is a barrister, she was unable to go over to court,” Browne said.