Sunday 1 November 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. 12640Driving without insurance and learner driver offences · Co. Offaly · 14 Jan 2025

Offaly learner driver sentenced for uninsured driving and missing L plates

Pauline Donoghue, a 66-year-old woman from Tullamore, was stopped by garda at 10am on 14 January 2025 on the R420 road at Cloncollig, Offaly, where she was found to be an uninsured learner driver with no L plates displayed and driving unaccompanied. She was charged with driving without insurance and learner driver offences. At Tullamore District Court, where legal aid was granted, she was convicted and banned from driving for two years. She was also fined €300 with 12 months to pay, and the judge noted it was her second conviction for driving without insurance, the first being in 2014.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
She was an uninsured learner driver with no L plates displayed and was driving unaccompanied.
Where
The stop was on the R420 road at Cloncollig, near Tullamore, Offaly.
When
The stop occurred at 10am on 14 January 2025.
Investigation
Garda Jude Doyle stopped her and issued fixed charge notices for non-display of L plates and driving unaccompanied, and sought a licence and insurance which were not produced.
Charges
She was charged with driving without insurance and learner driver offences.
In court
She was convicted at Tullamore District Court where legal aid was granted.
Sentence
  • She was banned from driving for two years.
  • She was fined €300 with 12 months to pay.
Other details
  • She had a previous conviction in 2014 for driving without insurance and having no licence.
  • The judge noted it was her second conviction for driving without insurance.
  • She was on a widow's pension.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe had no L plates displayed (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatShe was driving unaccompanied as a learner (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatShe was an uninsured learner driver (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe stop was on the R420 road at Cloncollig (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe stop occurred at 10am on 14 January 2025 (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtShe was convicted at Tullamore District Court (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was banned from driving for two years (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was given 12 months to pay the fine (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherShe had a previous conviction in 2014 for driving without insurance and having no licence (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted it was her second conviction for driving without insurance (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherShe was on a widow's pension (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Oct2026
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Sixty-six-year-old Offaly learner driver banned for two years

    Reports the court outcome: conviction, mandatory two-year driving ban, €300 fine with 12 months to pay, and details of the stop, prior 2014 conviction, and legal aid grant.

    convicted, Pauline Donoghue, 66, female, named, irish (judged from name)Pauline Donoghue