Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3278Dangerous driving with cannabis in her system · Co. Dublin · 29 Apr 2025

Music teacher fined and banned after cannabis-laced cake car chase with gardaí in Dublin

Marta Burns, 47, a music teacher from Ashbourne, Co Meath, was fined €700 and given a two-year driving ban at Dublin District Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving with cannabis in her system, following a pursuit in which she reversed 800m on the wrong side of Emmet Road, Dublin 8, after mistaking gardaí for thieves.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMarta Burns is a music teacher. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBurns mistook gardaí for thieves when they approached her car. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe called 999 to report a crime while being chased. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe collided with an occupied vehicle but did not remain at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe almost collided with a bin lorry. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBurns attended a party and ate cake she was not aware had cannabis in it. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBurns gave free music lessons and donated €60 to charities as part of a restorative justice programme. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBurns was in the car with her son when the gardaí approached. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred on Emmet Road, Dublin 8. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident took place at around midnight on 29 April 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeBurns pleaded guilty to dangerous driving with cannabis in her system. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Treasa Kelly presided over the sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceBurns was given a two-year driving ban. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Apr2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Teacher ended up in car chase with gardaí after ‘unwittingly’ eating cannabis-laced cake

    Full details of the court hearing including the facts of the pursuit, the defence (cannabis-laced cake), and the sentence of a €700 fine and two-year driving ban.

    accused, Marta Burns, 47, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Marta Burns