Front page? Obviously a slow news day then.
Such a thing could only happen to Monas. Shocking luck.
Does good deeds then the the tele attempt to unravel his hard work, by making it front page news.
What's the speed limit there after school hours?
Full story
from http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20598835-5001021,00.html
JUST three weeks after appearing with Sophie Delezio at the NRL grand final, Manly star Michael Monaghan faced court yesterday for making the same mistake that almost cost the courageous five-year-old her life.
Monaghan faced losing his licence for speeding through a 40km/h school zone at 78km/h.
He admitted the offence but pleaded for leniency because he said he needed his licence to do charity work with organisations such as Sophie's Day of Difference Foundation.
Sophie's father Ron was unaware of Monaghan's defence until The Daily Telegraph contacted him last night. He said while he was disappointed Monaghan had been speeding, he refused to attack him.
"Michael Monaghan does a lot of great work in the community and it is disappointing to learn of his offence," Mr Delezio said.
"I sincerely hope that the public's perception of Michael is not unfairly tainted as a result."
Monaghan, 26, was booked speeding in a school zone at Balgowlah – close to where Sophie was struck on a pedestrian crossing – on August 16.
The offence carries an automatic three-month licence suspension, and the Manly hooker faced being banned from driving for an additional three months because the fine took his points tally over 12. But at Manly Court yesterday, the winner of the NRL's Ken Stephens Medal for community service relied on his charity work to keep him behind the wheel.
Monaghan's solicitor Ian Byrne told the court his client needed his licence to continue charity work, which includes visits to a school for special needs children on the Northern Beaches, and statewide work with the Police Citizens Youth Club.
Mr Byrne told how the footballer had been closely involved with Sophie at the time of the incident.
Monaghan had earlier met the tenacious schoolgirl through his charity work with the Day of Difference Foundation, set up by Sophie's father after her accident.
Sophie accompanied Monaghan to the NRL grand final last month, arriving by helicopter to carry the Telstra Cup onto the field.
Magistrate Margaret Quinn granted Monaghan's appeal against the automatic suspension and also waived his points loss.
"He does work with children with special needs, which works in his favour," Ms Quinn noted. "The irony is while he was helping Sophie he was speeding through a school zone."
The NRL star was fined $576. Outside court, a contrite Monaghan told The Daily Telegraph he was unaware he was in a school zone when he was booked.
