Uninsured driver in Longford put off road for four years

A driving disqualification was imposed on a young mother of two children after she faced two no insurance charges at the recent sitting of Longford District Court.

Alexanra Laska, Ferefad, Longford was charged with no insurance and no driving licence at Ballymahon Road, Edgeworthstown on April 1 last. She was also charged with the same offences at Townspark, Longford on September 20, 2023.

Garda Sergeant Enda Daly, for the State, said during the incident in April, the defendant was stopped driving a car at Ballymahon Road, Edgeworthstown. The defendant said she did not have a driving licence or insurance.

The vehicle was then seized.

Defence solicitor Frank Gearty said the owner of the car was intoxicated and the defendant “chose the lesser of two evils” and drove the car.

On the second occasion when the defendant was stopped, a child was in the car and was not wearing a seatbelt. The defendant didn’t have a driving licence and the insurance on the car did not cover her to drive it. The defendant had no previous convictions, prior to these incidents. The defendant has two children, aged 8 and 4.

“She is held in good regard in the community,” Mr Gearty said. The defendant had been in a relationship, but this has now ended.

She is not working and is not in receipt of social welfare, apart from child benefit.

Originally from Slovakia, she is being helped out by an Irish family.

“She has prospects of a good future,” Mr Gearty said.

She hopes to rejoin the workforce, once her children are a little bit older. Mr Gearty undertook to help his client with her social welfare situation. She was granted free legal aid.

Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a fine of €300 on the first no insurance charge, with the no driving licence charge marked proven and taken into consideration.

A driving disqualification of four years was imposed on the second no insurance charge, along with a fine of €300.