Woman in the Midlands pleads guilty to driving under influence of cocaine and with no insurance

A woman who pleaded guilty to three motoring offences was banned from the road for two years and received over €1,000 in fines.

Marina Walker (27), of Kilcoursey, Edgeworthstown, Longford faced the charges arising from an incident on August 25, 2023. Ms Walker pleaded guilty to driving with a quantity of cocaine in system above legal limit, and driving without insurance or a drivers licence.

Sergeant Enda Daly told District Court judge, Bernadette Owens, that the defendant was stopped at 11pm on the date of the offence at Knockahave, Dublin Rd, Longford. The officers conducted a road side drug test which returned a positive reading for cannabis and cocaine.

Ms Walker was brought to Longford Garda Station and provided a sample, which subsequently proved positive for cocaine. No documentation was produced.

Solicitor Frank Gearty this was “out of character” for Ms Walker. He explained that the previous night a good friend of his client had a party before emigrating.

“Marina was very emotional, and made a mistake, “ Mr Gearty said.

The solicitor told the judge that his client had previously been insured on the car, but she had let her documentation lapse and “got into a bad habit of taking it out”. The vehicle was seized by Gardai.

“She is extremely sorry for what has happened. She recently secured work in a local holiday camp and is a good worker,” Mr Gearty said.

Having considered the facts of the case Judge Owens registered a conviction and imposed a fine of €400 with five month to pay for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, a further fine of €450 with seven month to pay was imposed for driving without insurance and all other matters were taken into consideration.

The offences also attracted a two year ban from holding a licence.