Mum couldn’t afford insurance after redundancy

A MOTHER-OF-TWO who appeared before Arklow District Court last Wednesday told the court that she wasn’t able to afford her insurance policy after losing her job.

Sylvia Pekarcikova, Ballingate, Carnew, was stopped by gardaí driving a vehicle at Croneyhorn, Carnew at 1.50 p.m. on October 7, 2016. She informed the gardaí that she had no insurance and the vehicle was seized.

Defence solicitor Pauric Hyland said his client had been living in Ireland for over ten years and was a single mother-of-two. She had been insured for most of her time in Ireland but was made redundant and could no longer afford to pay the insurance policy.

Mr Hyland added that his client lived in a very remote part of Wicklow with very limited access to public transport. As a result, she is reliant on neighbours and friends for lifts.

One of her children attends a special unit and, on the day in question, Ms Pekarcikova had to transport one of her children to an ‘emergency’ appointment.

Judge David Kennedy fined her €250 for no insurance but did not impose a driving disqualification.