Longford Circuit Court: Suspended sentence activated for banned driver

A mother of four who “has not learned a lesson at all” after receiving a suspended prison sentence in 2018 will serve eight months in custody.
Denise Curran, (38), of 14 An Rath Beg, Abbeylara, Longford was convicted of a number of driving offences at Ballywillan, Granard, Longford on December 17, 2016 in Longford Circuit Court in 2017.

The defendant returned before the Easter sitting of the court following her conviction of a triggering offence in the District Court.

Sergeant Aisling Flynn explained that following the defendant's conviction in 2017 she received a four year sentence, which was suspended for five years.

Judge Kenneth Connolly was told the conditions attached included that Ms Curran come under the supervision of probation services, undertake a residential treatment programme and stay off drugs and alcohol. The defendant was also disqualified for 10 years for the offences.
Sergeant Flynn outlined details of the triggering offence. In May 2022 the defendant was stopped at a Garda checkpoint at Wolfe Tone Court, Edgeworthstown. She admitted driving without a driving licence, insurance and being disqualified from the road at the time. She was stopped a second time in June.

Counsel for the defendant, Raymond Groarke BL, said his client immediately entered a plea to the offences. Mr Groarke said the defendant has not come to Garda attention since. Ms Curran spent seven months in prison around the time of the original offending.

The court heard the defendant had 42 previous convictions. Mr Groarke said back in 2016 his client had a “regular pattern of offending” as she was “leading a chaotic life”. Counsel said the defendant has completely changed her behaviour and now works six days a week as a commis chef.
Mr Groarke said Ms Curren found her experience of prison “extremely difficult”. The barrister pointed out that the defendant has five children all in care, whom she sees twice a month: “She is afraid that if she is in custody this building relationship will be jeopardised.”

He described it as “a blip in the context of her recovery” adding that Ms Curran was “doing her best” and has “improved her life completely”.
Judge Connolly said the defendant “had every opportunity to learn a lesson”. The judge described the probation report as “very striking”. He said: “Ms Curran was given the benefit of a suspended sentence, which was an excellent outcome for her. She went on to drive in an unlawful manner, despite the driving ban. She has not learned a lesson at all.”

The judge set the sentence at 15 months, but took into account the seven months Ms Curran spent in custody. The judge said the balance of eight months would now have to be served: “This is not something the court does lightly. You were banned from driving, but continued to do so.”
The judge left the motoring ban at 10 years and directed that the committal warrant come into effect on Tuesday June 6.