Woman jailed for insurance offences was living in car

JAIL was prescribed for 27-year-old Amy Gavin as she was convicted in the District Court of repeatedly driving without insurance.

Offences considered by the court were detected various locations including at Tara Hill, Paul Funge Boulevard and the services on the M11.

Her address was given variously in the court paperwork as Newbridge, Camolin; or 20 Newborough, Hollyfort Road, Gorey; or Ballintlea, Hollyfort.

However, defending solicitor Lana Doherty reckoned that her client had been homeless and living in her car for a period.

Ms Gavin gave birth to a new baby three weeks before the court hearing and Judge Brian O’Shea was told that her other children had been taken into care.

Ms Doherty described how the defendant had no stability in her life growing up and stated that both her parents and her brother were dead.

The judge concluded that Ms Gavin had gone through a period of reckless offending which he now marked with four convictions for her driving without insurance.

The court had the benefit of three probation reports and the judge felt that probation staff had done all they could for Ms Gavin, though she had not fully engaged with them.

He noted the arrival of her new baby but remarked that previous children had not caused her to modify behaviour which had been wantonly criminal to a very high degree.

He marked a sentence of two months on the first motor insurance charge, and then added consecutive terms of three months, three months and three months for further offences.

This added up to a total sentence of 11 months but the court decided to suspend the final nine months, and the defendant was also formally banned from driving for eight years.

Outstanding theft and assault matters were marked taken into consideration.