Louth post office clerk fined €1,500 for not telling Gardaí who was driving her car
The Drogheda IndependentA 52-year-old woman who didn’t tell Gardaí who was driving her car after it was allegedly driven dangerously by somebody else has been fined €1,500.
Miriam Murray, Reaghstown, Ardee, was summonsed for failing to give information following an incident which occurred in the early hours of the morning 18 months ago.
She was also accused of having no insurance and in respect of a demand being made for insurance.
The defendant, who has no previous convictions, denied any wrongdoing when the case came before Ardee District Court.
It was accepted that she was fully insured on another vehicle which she used.
The car in question was registered to her but off the road and kept parked at the side of her house, Ms Murray’s solicitor said. He added that she didn’t know it was gone until the guards called.
However, while striking out the two insurance summonses, Judge Nicola Andrews convicted Miriam Murray of failing to give information.
Gda Catherine Smyth testified that at 1.30am on July 6, 2024, at Drogheda Road, Ardee, she saw a Seat Leon being driven at high speed.
Her colleague indicated for it to stop by activating the blue lights. The car failed to stop and drove through Ardee town before turning left for St Joseph’s Hospital.
It stopped abruptly, almost resulting in a collision with the pursuing Garda vehicle.
The sole male occupant got out and fled on foot. He went down a laneway and through a wooded area. Gda Smyth said they couldn’t catch him and he escaped.
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Later that day the officer went to the defendant’s house in Reaghstown. There, Miriam Murray told her that she would find out who was driving.
The court heard that on the following July 14, Gda Smyth spoke by phone with Ms Murray who was in a restaurant in Portugal on holiday at the time.
She was unable to provide details of who was driving, the officer continued.
Gda Smyth returned to the house on August 28 and again got no details from the defendant.
Solicitor Paul Eaton said it was not in dispute that his client owned the Seat Leon.
It was off the road, kept at the side of the house and not used by her. It had no NCT.
Under cross-examination Gda Smyth said that there was no record of Ms Murray attending at Carrickmacross Garda Station.
It was accepted that she was not driving during this incident. She was co-operative.
When the accused returned from holiday, the witness said that she attended at the house, but the woman still did not know who was driving.
Gda Smyth added that Miriam Murray never said to her that the car must have been stolen or taken without her permission.
Mr Eaton submitted that his client gave the information she had. She didn’t know that the car was gone until Gardaí knocked on her door.
She couldn’t lie. She didn’t know who took the car.
Judge Andrews remarked that Miriam Murray “chose not to find out” who was driving and disclose the information.
The court was not satisfied she co-operated in any way.
She was the registered owner and with that came certain entitlements and certain obligations she must comply with.
“Her car was being used as a weapon on roads around this county. She chose not to identify the driver,” Judge Andrews said.
Mr Eaton said that the defendant lived at home with her two adult children and worked as a post office clerk.
A €1,500 fine was imposed, six months to pay.
The judge said that she would “reluctantly” not add a driving disqualification.
Bail to appeal was set at a personal bond of €500 with €500 cash lodged.