Ireland Case No. 10203Dangerous driving · Co. Dublin · 29 Apr 2025
Woman who ate cannabis cake gets road ban and fine for dangerous driving in Dublin
Marta Burns, a 47-year-old woman, drove off at speed and reversed about 800 metres on the wrong side of Emmet Road in Dublin 8 at around midnight on 29 April 2025, after mistaking gardaí who approached her car for robbers. Her defence said she had eaten a cake at a party without knowing it contained cannabis. She pleaded guilty to dangerous driving with cannabis in her system, and Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court imposed a two-year road ban and a €700 fine with no custodial sentence. The sentence was reported on 21 April 2026, the latest development in the case.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Burns drove off at speed and called 999 to report gardaí as robbers when they gave chase.
- She reversed about 800 metres on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic.
- Where
- The incident happened on Emmet Road, Dublin 8.
- When
- The incident happened at around midnight on 29 April 2025.
- Investigation
- Local drug unit officers on patrol saw her parked at the Emmet Road-Spa Road junction.
- Cause
- The defence said she had eaten a cake at a party and was not aware it contained cannabis.
- Other details
- The vehicle collided with an unknown occupied vehicle, which did not remain at the scene.
- The judge noted that Burns had completed a restorative justice course through the Probation Service.
- Burns had a prior conviction in Lisburn Magistrates’ Court for a traffic offence more than three years earlier.
- Charges
- Burns pleaded guilty to dangerous driving with cannabis in her system.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Treasa Kelly.
- The sentencing was reported in an article dated 21 April 2026, though the tracker entry is dated 1 April 2026.
- Sentence
- Burns was given a two-year road ban and fined €700.
- The judge imposed no custodial sentence and refused to reduce the charge to a lesser careless offence.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShe drove off at speed and called 999 to report gardaí as robbers when they gave chase. (thejournal.ie)
- whatShe reversed about 800 metres on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on Emmet Road, Dublin 8. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident happened at around midnight on 29 April 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe defence said she had eaten a cake at a party and was not aware it contained cannabis. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationLocal drug unit officers were on patrol and saw her parked at the Emmet Road-Spa Road junction. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBurns pleaded guilty to dangerous driving with cannabis in her system. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin District Court before Judge Treasa Kelly. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceBurns was given a two-year road ban and fined €700. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed no custodial sentence and refused to reduce the charge to a lesser careless offence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe vehicle collided with an unknown occupied vehicle, which did not remain at the scene. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge noted that Burns had completed a restorative justice course through the Probation Service. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBurns had a prior conviction in Lisburn Magistrates’ Court for a traffic offence more than three years earlier. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Apr2026Woman ate cannabis cake, drove 800 metres in reverse mistaking gardaí for robbers, court hears
First report of this case. Covers the guilty plea, the facts of the pursuit and the sentence imposed by Judge Treasa Kelly.
convicted, Marta Burns, 47, female, namedMarta Burns