Yan Diao, 44, of Caislean Na hAbhann, Castletroy, has been convicted of driving through a red light in Limerick city and fined €150. Limerick District Court gave him three months to pay. He represented himself and fought the charge.
The offence was on 26 December 2025. Inspector Padraigh Sutton, of the Roads Policing Unit at Henry Street Garda Station, told Judge Patricia Harney he had been about to follow another driver who had gone through the same red light when he saw Diao’s car follow that vehicle through. He could not follow both, so he followed Diao. He said the car went through clearly on red, and that it was the second to do so.
Diao said he had followed a car through an amber light. He told the judge he would not plead guilty until he saw video. The Limerick Post report does not say any recording was played. He also said he thought a taxi driver was an easy target. Asked if he meant the Garda was prejudiced, he said he was not saying that, and that he might have misjudged it.
Judge Harney told him that a red light is a red light, and that she preferred the Garda’s evidence because it was clear. Prosecuting Sergeant Jimmy Dillane, of Roxboro Road Garda Station, said Diao had no previous convictions. The judge then fixed recognisance in case of an appeal. The report does not give that sum, and it does not name the junction.
The fine, and the points
Failing to obey a traffic light is a fixed charge offence. Paid within 28 days the charge is €80 and three penalty points. Paid in the next 28 days it is €120, still with three points. There is a last chance to pay €160, twice the original charge, up to seven days before a court date, again with three points. A conviction in court carries five points, and the fine is the one the judge sets. Diao’s €150 is that court fine. The report does not mention points. Five is the number attached to this offence on conviction, and they stay on the Irish licence record for three years. Twelve points in any three years means a six-month driving ban (penalty points).
The National Transport Authority manual ties automatic loss of a small public service vehicle driver licence to careless or dangerous driving, drink or drug driving, and failing to give a specimen (SPSV manual). A red-light conviction is outside that list. The court report does not say his taxi licence was touched.
The hearing is reported by David Raleigh in the Limerick Post, under the Court Reporting Scheme.