*Tommy Fleming.
THE multi-million album selling singer, Tommy Fleming has beaten a speed rap in court after a no show by Go Safe speed van operators.
At Gort District Court, Sgt Damien Prendergast told Judge Adrian Harris that it was the State’s application to request “a blanket adjournment’ for all Go Safe speed cases to next month.
Sgt Prendergast told Judge Adrian Harris that he was requesting the adjournment as the Go Safe operators had other commitments including court appearances elsewhere.
However, Judge Harris struck out any cases where a motorist appeared in connection with a Go Safe speed summons.
In his case, Tommy Fleming of Castleconnor, Ballina, Co Mayo was accused of speeding in his 15 D registered vehicle in excess of 120km per hour on the Galway Limerick M18 motorway at Killeenhugh, Kinvara, Co Galway on December 12th 2021.
When Tommy Fleming’s name was called, solicitor for Mr Fleming, Deirdre Brophy said that she appeared on Mr Fleming’s behalf and that Mr Fleming had travelled from Ballina for the Go Safe prosecution.
Sgt Prendergast asked for an adjournment in the case to next month.
However, Judge Harris said that he would strike out the case. He said, “The State isn’t here to proceed. This man has travelled here and I strike out the matter”.
Mr Fleming smiled as he briefly spoke with Ms Brophy before exiting the court.
Judge Harris dismissed another case against a driver from Cashel who showed up in the court “because the Go Safe people aren’t here”.
In four other cases, Judge Harris adjourned the prosecutions to next month when there was also a ‘no-show’ from the drivers concerned.
Over a 30 year career and one of Ireland’s most popular singers, Tommy Fleming has sold 3.5 million albums around the world and is currently in the middle of a nationwide tour where he has dates at Cork Opera House and Bord Gais Energy Energy Theatre in Dublin.
Mr Fleming’s earnings from live performance were decimated during the pandemic which closed down the live music industry for almost two years.
The most recent accounts for Mr Fleming’s production company, TF Productions Ltd show that it received Covid-19 related Government grant income of €752,952 made up of €547,119 in 2022 and €205,833 in 2021.
The 2022 grant income was mainly made up of a €434,619 Live Performance Support Scheme grant of €434,619 from the Dept of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and another €100,000 grant under the Live Performance Restart Grant scheme from the same Government department.
The firm recorded post tax profits of €179,161 for 2022. The firm’s cash funds during 2022 increased sharply from €125,093 to €290,690. At the end of 2022, the company’s shareholder funds totalled €144,807.
Pay to directors for 2022 increased more than fourfold to €145,629 made up of €55,629 in remuneration and €90,000 in pension contributions.
