A JUDGE told a solicitor, making a case for a client who had five convictions for driving without insurance, to “get real.”
Judge Patricia Harney was hearing the case of Lee Anne Casey (21) of 163 Hyde Road, Prospect, who had previously pleaded guilty to driving without insurance after being stopped by Gardaí.
She had a previous eight-year driving disqualification, Judge Harney was told at Limerick District Court.
At the initial hearing, Judge Harney had ordered a probation report and she was hearing a plea in mitigation from Ms Casey’s solicitor, Ted McCarthy.
Mr McCarthy said that Ms Casey had suffered “four tragedies in her life in recent times, but the report shows that despite that, she is making efforts”.
On the question of whether further disqualification would hamper her getting insurance to drive again, Judge Harney told Mr McCarthy to “get real”.
“The chances of her getting insurance cover from anybody are minimal. She’s doing well not to go to jail,” the judge said.
Judge Harney sentenced Ms Casey to six weeks in prison but suspended that jail sentence for 18 months and released her on bond that she be of good behaviour and not drive a vehicle during that time.
