Woman with Offaly address 'living in car' jailed for insurance offence

A WOMAN prosecuted for driving without insurance had been living in her car, Tullamore District Court was told.

Imposing two consecutive four-month sentences on Pamela Mary Simmonson (50), with an address at Lowerheath, Fivealley, Birr, Judge Andrew Cody said her latest conviction for uninsured driving was her 10th in all.

Ms Simmonson pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on July 20, 2025 and March 16 last and probation reports were read by Judge Cody when he considered his sentencing on Monday.

The judge said there was a “huge number” of previous convictions dating back to 2022 and a suspended sentence had previously been imposed.

He said she had been convicted of driving without insurance on July 16, 2025 and four days later was “back out again”.

Legal aid had been granted to solicitor Brian Duffy when a summons for uninsured driving at Castle Street, Townparks, Birr came before the court in February and on Monday he instructed a barrister, David Nugent.

Mr Nugent told the court the offending had occurred when Ms Simmonson was living in her car but she now had secure housing and there had been no issues since she got the house.

Judge Cody said the car used in one of the most recent offences was her daughter's and a probation report noted Ms Simmonson was living in a house.

The judge also noted there was a reference in one of the reports to Ms Simmonson saying she drove because she needed to go to the dump.

He imposed the two four-month sentences and fixed recognisances for an appeal.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns, court presenter, said suspended sentences of up to six months, one of which was from Tralee District Court, were being re-entered because of the convictions.

Judge Cody adjourned consideration of the activation of those sentences to Tullamore District Court on October 28 and Tralee District Court on October 21.

(Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme)