A Tipperary woman who gave false information to gardaí is handed a fine

A woman in her 70s gave a fictional name and address to avoid a fixed penalty notice, Thurles District Court was told.

Laura Mason of Killinan, Thurles pleaded guilty to giving false information to An Garda Síochána on July 1, 2021.

The court heard that the Fixed Penalty Office had sought more information from the defendant, who was the registered owner of a car caught speeding in Kildare in June 2021.

The defendant nominated another person as the driver on the day of the incident.

The court heard that Ms Mason provided an address outside the State and an email for which the gardaí could contact the driver.

However, the address was incomplete and could not be located.

The defendant then said the address was right but the postcode was incorrect, and another notice was issued, the court heard.

When the nominee still could not be contacted, a guard in Thurles was appointed to investigate if the information was false.

LAPSE IN JUDGEMENT

Kenny Kearns BL who was acting for Ms Mason, said his client accepted her actions were wrong and called the incident a “lapse in judgement”.

He told the court that his client is in her 70s and is not known to the guards; a point the guard on the stand confirmed.

He asked the court for leniency as his client had an “unblemished record and is in gainful employment”.

Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said she could not ignore the defendant’s intention to deceive the gardaí.

She convicted Ms Mason and issued to her a €250 fine.