Kildare woman ‘adamant’ she was insured when stopped by Gardaí
The woman appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court
A named driver on an insurance policy was ‘adamant’ she was insured when she was stopped in Laois.
Jade Mary Quinn (33) of Monasterevin, Co Kildare pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the R417 at Gorteenoona, Co Kildare on December 2, 2025.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the woman was stopped after an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) alert about the 171KE registered car she was driving.
Sgt Kirby said that when stopped, “the driver was adamant that the insurance was valid”. However, her insurer confirmed that the policy had stopped in September and the car was seized. He said the woman had “no convictions whatsoever” when asked about any previous.
Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had been on a “policy that was paid by instalments and she was a named driver”. She said the policy had been in place since February that year.
“She genuinely believed she was covered but apparently there was a payment missed in the household,” Ms Fitzpatrick explained.
After the woman was made aware, Ms Fitzpatrick told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that she “immediately” put a new policy in place.
“She did genuinely believe she was covered or she would not have been driving,” said Ms Fitzpatrick.
Judge Edward Carroll asked Sgt Kirby if it was true that the woman genuinely believed she had insurance cover. Sgt Kirby agreed that she did. Judge Carroll then asked about her circumstances.
Ms Fitzpatrick said the woman works part time as a cleaner for around 15 hours a week and was a parent.
Judge Carroll said he accepted the evidence and he noted the woman had been insured without interruption since May of 2020. He didn’t impose a disqualification but fined the woman €250 and gave her three months to pay. The woman thanked the Judge as she left the court.