Spa employee escapes driving disqualification for no insurance

AN ABBEYFEALE woman who was involved in a traffic accident while driving without insurance escaped a disqualification order at Listowel District Court on Thursday due to the circumstances of the case.

Muireann Cahill of Knocknasna, Abbeyfeale, pleaded guilty before Judge David Waters to a charge of driving without insurance.

Gardaí explained they made a demand for documentation from Ms Cahill following a traffic accident in which she was involved at Clieveragh roundabout in Listowel on January 10 of last year.

Ms Cahill was fined €300 on conviction of the offence, but Judge Waters moved not to impose a disqualification-from-driving period after hearing the background to the case.

Solicitor Karen Carmody explained that her client had lost a position the previous October as a result of which she had let her insurance ‘lapse’.

But on taking up a new position, her father had started driving her to and from work.

“On this occasion her father had been called to a medical emergency and she made the decision to drive to work,” Ms Carmody explained, adding that Ms Cahill was anxious not to be put off the road as she now works at the Spa in Adare Manor and requires her vehicle.

Judge Waters said that he would exercise his discretion ‘under the circumstances’ not to disqualify Ms Cahill from driving. The Judge fined her €300 on the charge of no insurance contrary to section 56 of the Road Traffic Act.