A young man named Joseph Bland of Oakglen, Stradbally, Portlaoise, Co Laois, is facing a potential jail sentence for repeatedly pulling the emergency cord on a train trip to Dublin. The train’s inspector issued a fixed penalty notice fine, but it went unpaid, resulting in Bland being charged under Section 118 of the Railway Safety Act. The case resumed in court with no appearance by the defendant, but it proceeded in his absence. During the hearing, Irish Rail inspector Paul Quigley testified that the train was delayed by 35 minutes because the emergency cord was pulled multiple times, forcing the driver to stop and reset it each time. The judge issued a bench warrant for Bland’s arrest and adjourned the sentencing while considering a custodial sentence. It is important to note that the emergency cord should only be used in actual emergencies.
