Smilin' Irish eyes
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Operators in the Scottish Traffic Area have been worried for some time about the possible influx of Irish operators working illegally in their territory. Until now there has been little proof, only suspicion, but things changed last week.
Up in Shetland the local police sergeant stopped a vehicle belonging to Darrell McKnight of Nutts Corner, near Belfast. The policeman wanted to see the driver's records — no, it's not the old one, that he only had cassettes of Val Doonican — he had no hours records, Subsequent inquiries revealed that another nine of Darrell Mc Knight's drivers had not been keeping records either. In all, the McKnight fleet had committed 1,380 offences, which was three times the total of all Shetland's offences for 1977. But Darrell won't be charged. Before the police could act, he and his men had hopped it back to Ulster. There is no way he can be charged or
extraditedfor the offences under British law, nor can the Northern Ireland authorities act.
If Mr McKnight claims he didn't know the law, can I suggest he quits the golf course or his Pig & Chicken restaurant for a week and slips next door to the NI RTITB. They'll put him right.
The police are actively pursuing a line of inquiry which may reveal other McKnight haulage interests here. If they find one they may act. In the meantime, Mr McKnight is confined to the Six Counties of Ulster for he can be sure that if he ventures across the Irish Sea again, there will be a reception party.