Pop star Samantha Mumba was allowed to drive home from court today after all motoring charges against her were struck out.
Samantha Mumba arriving at Richmond Court today
The 22-year-old Irish singer was stopped last November by gardaí on the M1 motorway in Santry in Dublin. She was charged on five counts with failing to produce a driving licence and insurance certificate and having no driving licence, insurance disc and motor tax disc.
At Dublin District Court today, Garda John Faherty said he had received proof that her driving licence was in order on the date in question and added that her car had since been back-taxed.
Judge Anne Ryan struck out the four charges relating to the failure to have tax or a driving licence.
The charge of having no insurance was struck out at a previous hearing of the case last July when Mumba, from Gracepark Road, Drumcondra, in north Dublin, produced evidence of an insurance certificate.
Judge Ryan asked: "So everything is in order?" Garda Faherty replied: "Yes judge, it just leaves the no tax in your hands."
Judge Ryan said this was fine and struck out all the charges. "All monies have been paid," she said.
Mumba, dressed in denim jeans, a brown cardigan, white shirt and knee high black boots, opted to represent herself but did not have to speak during her short time in the witness box.
She was accompanied by a female friend and her boyfriend Charles Porter, who clapped his hands together in delight when the judge struck out all the charges.
Mumba had originally told the court last July that she had been fully insured when she was stopped by gardaí on November 22nd 2004 and that she did have a driving licence but did not have it on her.
She had originally wished for the case to proceed but the judge put it back to today to give her time to produce the relevant documents.