Uninsured Offaly driver who was giving elderly lady lift banned for two years

Garda at checkpoint saw no insurance or NCT discs

Published 9th Mar 2026, 12:30 BST Updated 24th Mar 2026, 16:25 BST Driving ban imposed at Tullamore District Court Garda at checkpoint saw no insurance or NCT discs A TWO-year driving ban was imposed on a woman who Tullamore District Court heard was giving a lift to an elderly woman when she came upon a checkpoint.

Jessica Hanley (37), Hillview Road, Rhode, admitted driving without insurance and not producing an NCT on the R400 road in Rhode on October 15 last.

Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

Garda Eoin O'Flaherty said he was operating a checkpoint in Rhode village and saw that a Volkswagen Passat had no insurance or NCT displayed.

Garda O'Flaherty said documents were subsequently not produced and the driver Ms Hanley had a previous conviction for uninsured driving, another for being an unaccompanied learner driver, plus a convictions for having no 'L' plates and driving without consideration for other road users.

Defending solicitor Patrick Martin said his client was a mother of three who had got insurance two days after being stopped.

On the date of the offence she was going on a short journey with an elderly lady who wanted a lift.

Mr Martin said that because her children were in school in a different village a disqualification would cause her difficulties.

Judge Andrew Cody noted it was the woman's second conviction for driving without insurance so he disqualified her from driving for two years.

Judge Cody also imposed a fine of €500 for the insurance offence and another fine of €200 for failing to produce the NCT.

Related topics: Offaly News Rhode Tullamore District Court Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.