A woman who drove through a checkpoint forcing a garda to jump to safety has been sentenced to two three-month terms in prison, disqualified from driving for 15 years and fined €1,800. However, the judge will later consider her suitability for community service instead of going to jail.
Caitríona O'Brien (30), a mother of two, Woodpark, Mountshannon, had pleaded guilty to 10 charges arising of the incident last September. O'Brien, who was disqualified from driving at the time, was charged with nine offences including drink-driving, dangerous driving, failing to stop, having no insurance, driver's licence or road tax. She also pleaded guilty to creating litter in a public place.
At Killaloe District Court yesterday, O'Brien was sentenced to three months in prison and disqualified from driving for five years for drink-driving. She was disqualified for a further five years and fined €800 for dangerous driving. For failing to stop for a garda, she was fined €200 and disqualified for another five years. She was also given a second three-month sentence for having no insurance and fined €600 for not having road tax. She was also fined €100 for each of two offences, having no driving licence and creating litter in a public place.
However, Judge Joseph Mangan yesterday adjourned the matter to December 18th to allow for a report to determine her suitability for community service to be completed. If she is deemed fit for the scheme, the court could commute her sentence to 120 hours of community service.
Her solicitor said she had adhered to all bail conditions, which included abstaining from alcohol and staying out of licensed premises. She had done everything requested of her and appreciated that she was being given a second chance and had turned her life around. She had also submitted herself to probation and psychiatric reports.