A County Donegal haulage company has been fined £6,000 for a series of road transport offences uncovered after a crash that killed a 20-year-old driver near Omagh.

William Gill Livestock Transport Ltd, based in Buncrana, appeared at Omagh Magistrates Court on Thursday. The case followed a collision on the Beltany Road on 16 August 2022, in which articulated lorry driver Jonathan Reilly died.

The company admitted failing to allow a driver to take a required break, employing a driver in breach of on-off duty rules, and operating a vehicle with defective tyres. It contested two charges related to tachograph records but was convicted after a hearing.

District Judge Conor Heaney said he was satisfied the firm had made or permitted a false tachograph entry and recorded false data on recording equipment. He noted that the defective tyres did not contribute to the crash.

The court heard that the lorry was being driven at a time when tachograph data indicated the driver was resting. A prosecution barrister argued that the company had shown a disregard for proper management by leaving drivers to arrange their own work without supervision.

The defence maintained there was no evidence to establish how the tachograph alterations happened or who was responsible. The judge said the key issue was whether the company failed to be proactive in finalising drivers’ work plans.

The company was ordered to pay £500 for each of the four offences comprising the two tyre defects, the on-off duty contravention and the rest-break infringement. It was fined a further £2,000 for each of the two tachograph-related offences. The court allowed 26 weeks for payment.

Members of Mr Reilly’s family, including his parents and siblings, were present in court.