Motorist fined €600 in her absence

RITA BYRNE (54) from 6 Town View, Carnew was convicted on the double of motoring offences considered in her absence at the District Court in Wexford last Tuesday.

The prosecuting garda told how he first came across Ms Byrne and her silver BMW at Island Road in Enniscorthy on August 16.

She was handing a mobile phone (fine €300) and he pointed out that her motor tax was out of date.

The tax had not been sorted out when he examined the same car the following month on September 6, this time at Ballindinas outside Wexford Town (fine €300).

Ms Byrne was not present but sent an email suggesting that she was unable to attend as she was sick.

However, the garda successfully applied to go ahead with the case as the matter had been listed for hearing on several previous occasions and each time the accused motorist sent an excuse for not being present.