Woman stopped in Portlaoise drove for two years wrongly believing she was insured

A woman who drove for two years under the misapprehension that she was insured was given a suspended prison sentence. 

Letricia Kotze Meyers, 52, of Delish, Drimoleague, Cork was charged with not having insurance or driving licence on the M7 at The Heath on April 3 last year. 

A sitting of Portlaoise District Court was told the defendant was disqualified from driving at the time she was stopped. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was very apologetic for what had happened. He said she had taken out an insurance policy and had been of the belief that an appeal against her disqualification was ongoing. 

“She should have been more careful as to the validity of the appeal papers that were lodged,” said Mr Meagher. 

“You are telling me, for two years she thought there was an appeal pending?” asked Judge Andrew Cody.  

Mr Meagher said she would only have driven sporadically and she apologises unreservedly. 

Judge Cody fined her €200, banned her from driving for four years and imposed a three month sentence which he suspended for five years.  He fixed recognisance in case of