Tipperary woman jailed after being caught driving uninsured for the 16th time

Marilyn Byrne (37) was also put off the road for another 20 years when she admitted motoring charges.

A court heard she had a drug problem and relapsed after finding a friend dead.

Byrne, of Stable Lane, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, pleaded guilty to uninsured and unlicensed driving and giving gardaí a false name.

Blanchardstown District Court heard she was stopped at Keating’s Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin on February 12, 2021. She was arrested when she gave a false name and was taken to Clondalkin garda station.

Byrne had 85 prior convictions, including 15 for driving without insurance. She was on a 12-year disqualification when stopped and had previously been sentenced.

She had a chronic drug problem but had been doing well, her lawyer said. However, an incident happened where she found her friend dead and was first on the scene.

As a result, Byrne fell back into addiction, her lawyer said.

Judge Gerard Jones made the five-month sentence concurrent to a prison term Byrne was already serving.