Woman with 10 previous no insurance convictions sentenced over dangerous driving offence committed in North Kildare

A County Dublin woman with 10 previous driving with no insurance convictions has been sentenced over a dangerous driving offence that she committed in North Kildare.

Melissa Joyce, with an address listed as 36 Kilshane Drive in Finglas, Dublin 11, County Dublin, was convicted for the offence at Naas District Court on Thursday, July 25.

The 34-year-old appeared via video-link as she was in custody at the time of the court session.

Gardaí told Judge Desmond Zaidan that on July 18 last, Ms Joyce was seen driving dangerously in Blackhill, Kill.

Specifically, it was heard that Ms Joyce failed to stop at a garda checkpoint in the area, and proceeded to speed off at 120 kilometres per hour (kph) in a 60kph zone.

At the time, it was heard that she was disqualified from driving for a period of ten years.

In addition, it was heard that she had children in the car at the time of the incident, and that Ms Joyce had no insurance on her car at the time.

Gardaí noted that she has 87 previous convictions, 10 of which are related to no insurance offences.

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DEFENCE

Defending barrister Aisling Murphy told Judge Zaidan that 'a lot of issues came to light' at time for her client.

Ms Murphy said that the date in question coincided with the anniversary of a loved one's death, and that she had also recently lost a separate relative.

"She was not thinking straight at the time," she told the judge.

Ms Murphy also said that her client acknowledged that she was disqualified from driving at the time, and was 'apologetic for her actions.'

She further said that her client 'has a very supportive family.'

Ms Murphy concluded by asking Judge Zaidan to consider imposing a suspended custodial sentence on her client, adding that she received a six-month custodial sentence on July 24 last.

After consideration, the judge said that he would impose a five-month custodial sentence on Ms Joyce on the dangerous driving charge, and a further five months in custody for the no insurance offence (ten months in total).

He also imposed two six-year driving disqualifications, which are concurrent.

The judge also agreed to backdate the sentence to when Ms Joyce first entered into custody, and set appeal at €500.

Ms Joyce thanked Judge Zaidan following his verdict.