Youth says honesty did not pay

A Mullingar student, who travels to Dublin by train every day to attend college is facing the prospect of a criminal prosecution over an unpaid fare.On November 8 last year, Luke Moore from Greenpark Meadows approached the information desk in Connolly Station to inform an Iarnród Éireann official he had been unable to purchase a ticket prior to boarding a train from Mullingar.Instead of receiving a sympathetic ear from the official, the young man, who was anxious to pay his fare, was immediately handed an on-the-spot penalty."I could not believe what was happening," an incredulous Luke told the Westmeath Examiner this week.Iarnród Éireann responseThe Westmeath Examiner spoke to Iarnród Éireann yesterday (Tuesday) morning, when spokesman Barry Kenny said the company has a clear policy on fare evasion."A passenger cannot board a train without a ticket. It is the customer's responsibility to ensure they arrive at a station in good time in order to purchase a ticket. It is not our policy to sell tickets to passengers en route or to accept payment at their destination. Intending travellers must purchase their ticket prior to boarding," he said.Full story in this week's Westmeath Examiner.