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. 20166Driving without insurance · Co. Tipperary · 10 Mar 2019

Tipperary woman fined for driving without insurance on hired car

Laura McCarthy, a 45-year-old woman from Cork, hired a car at Cork Airport on 22 December 2018 and failed to return it when due. She was found driving the vehicle at Rearcross, Tipperary, on 10 March 2019, and the hire company reported it as stolen. She was charged with using a vehicle without the owner's consent, driving without insurance, and driving without a driver's licence. After adjournments in 2022 and 2023 for medical reasons, Judge Elizabeth MacGrath at Nenagh District Court fined her €150 for driving without insurance in July 2023, with the no-driver's-licence charge taken into account.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court29 Mar
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
She hired a car at Cork Airport on 22 December 2018 and failed to return it when due.
Where
She was found driving the vehicle at Rearcross, Tipperary.
When
The car was found on 10 March 2019.
Investigation
The hire company reported the car as stolen.
Charges
She was charged with using a vehicle without the owner's consent, driving without insurance, and driving without a driver's licence.
In court
The case was adjourned in March 2022 for a Covid-19 test and again in March 2023 for medical reasons.
Sentence
She was fined €150 for driving without insurance in July 2023, with the no-driver's-licence charge taken into account.
Other details
  • She had 19 previous convictions, including seven for theft.
  • She repaid €700 to the car rental company.
  • The hire company was unable to charge her extra because her credit card had been blocked.
21 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe failed to bring the vehicle back (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereShe was found driving the vehicle at Rearcross on 10 March 2019 (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe car was hired at Cork Airport. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereShe was found driving the car at Rearcross. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe hire company reported the car as stolen. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeShe was initially charged with using a vehicle without the owner's consent, driving without insurance and driving without a driver's licence. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe solicitor for the woman was told by Nenagh District Court he must produce evidence that she cannot appear due to health problems (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtJudge Elizabeth MacGrath said she would not deal with the case until the defendant came before the court (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to July 21 (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe defendant's solicitor told the judge she was in hospital and it was not known when she could attend court (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe case had been adjourned the previous year because the defendant had undergone a Covid-19 test and could not attend court (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtJudge Elizabeth MacGrath at Nenagh District Court fined her for having no insurance. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • sentenceShe was fined €150 for driving without insurance, and the no-driver's-licence charge was taken into account. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe hire company reported the car as being stolen (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe hire company was unable to charge the defendant extra because her credit card had been blocked (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe hire company would have been out of pocket as they could not hire the vehicle out until it was returned (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherMs McCarthy had a total of 19 previous convictions, including seven for theft (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherShe did not return the car when it was due back. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe case was adjourned from the previous March because she failed to appear for medical reasons. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherShe had 19 previous convictions, including seven for theft. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherShe had repaid €700 to the car rental company. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jul2023
    Sentencedtipperarylive.ie, follow-up
    Woman located in Tipperary with no insurance on rented car is fined by court

    Court report on sentencing. The article gives the hire date (22 December 2018, Cork Airport), the 2019 offence date, the €150 fine, and that €700 was repaid to the hire company. No earlier report of this case is in the list.

    convicted, Laura McCarthy, 45, female, named, irish (judged from name)Laura McCarthy
  2. 29 Mar2023
    In courttipperarylive.ie, first report
    Tipperary judge says woman who can't attend court for medical reasons must produce cert

    Reports that Judge Elizabeth MacGrath adjourned the case to July 21 after the defendant's solicitor said she was in hospital, and that the judge required medical evidence to be produced. Also notes the defendant has 19 previous convictions including seven for theft, and that the hire company reported the car as stolen and was unable to charge the defendant extra because her credit card was blocked.

    accused, Laura McCarthy, 45, female, named, irish (judged from name)Laura McCarthy