Driver who missed insurance warning letter after moving house avoids ban
A woman who was caught driving without insurance made a “genuine error” and did not realise the policy had been cancelled due to non-payment, a court heard.
Sarah Jane McLoughlin (30) had moved house and never received a letter from the insurance company saying the policy had been cancelled, her lawyer said.
Judge Stephanie Coggans fined McLoughlin €700, but did not ban her from driving.
The defendant, with an address at The Haven, Skerries, Co Dublin, admitted uninsured and unlicensed driving in Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, on January 18, 2025.
Garda Grace Roddy told Balbriggan District Court that she stopped the defendant at around 1.30pm and made the lawful demand for her insurance documents.
The disc on the car had expired and the vehicle was seized.
Defence lawyer Annette Kealy said McLoughlin had changed her car, and the wrong disc had been issued to her.
Ms Kealy said McLoughlin had not realised her insurance policy had been cancelled due to non-payment, as she had moved out of her mother’s house and had not received a letter from the insurance company.
Asking the judge to be lenient, Ms Kealy said this was “a genuine error” and McLoughlin had not realised the payment had failed to go through.