Mother-of-five receives her second driving disqualification at Limerick District Court
Hazel Hackett has 29 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences
A WOMAN who was caught driving with no insurance while also serving an active road disqualification has been sentenced for these offences at Limerick District Court.
Hazel Hackett, aged 35, of O'Briensbridge, Co Clare, appeared before Judge Catherine Ryan following an incident on August 3, 2026.
Outlining brief facts of the case, Prosecuting Sergeant Denis Waters said gardai were on patrol in Limerick when they encountered Ms Hackett as her vehicle was flagged for having no insurance.
Following this, Ms Hackett disclosed to gardai that she was currently disqualified from driving for a period of 12 years. She was then arrested, charged and conveyed to a garda station in the locality.
Limerick District Court heard that Hazel Hackett has 29 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.
In May 2022, she was convicted for her fifth no insurance offence and as a result, received a suspended sentence and 12-year driving ban, which she was serving when caught again for having no insurance this August.
The woman’s solicitor, Sarah Ryan, said her client was working part-time as a cleaner during that time, has five children and was co-operative with gardai when arrested, informing them of her disqualification “straight away.”
Ms Ryan stated that she hoped a custodial sentence would not be imposed as her client is no longer working now and her youngest child is only a few months old.
Judge Catherine Ryan said she was faced with a hard decision considering Ms Hackett has shown a “blatant disregard” for Irish road laws and suggested that she start to use public transport instead.
The judge sentenced the mother-of-five to four months imprisonment for her sixth no insurance offence, which she suspended for a period of two years. Ms Hackett was also fined €250 and was served an additional driving disqualification of 10 years.
This will run concurrently to the disqualification from 2022, meaning she will face a further two years off the roads.
Ms Hackett was handed a €200 own bond and if she is caught driving again in the meantime, her suspended sentence will be activated.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.