Mother ignored long road ban and drove to buy nappies in Offaly

A HOMELESS mother of two was buying nappies when she ignored a 10-year ban from driving, Tullamore District Court was told.

Defence barrister Ethan Foley said 28-year-old Chloe Maloney, a woman of no fixed abode who previously had an address at Clonduff, Broadford, Co Kildare, was driving to get nappies when gardai stopped her on July 16 last at Fairgreen, Edenderry.

Ms Maloney pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and a driving licence and Sergeant Richard Thornton said she had been detected by gardai on mobile patrol.

Sergeant Thornton said the woman was driving while disqualified and had previous convictions for uninsured driving from 2021 and 2022, along with two convictions for drugs offences.

The sergeant said a 10-year driving ban had been imposed at Blanchardstown District Court in 2022 and prior to that disqualifications of two and four years had been imposed.

“Bad record,” remarked Judge Valerie Corcoran, noting that she had four convictions in total for driving without insurance.

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Mr Foley said Ms Maloney was estranged from the father of her two young children and was currently homeless and living on a friend's couch.

She was of very limited means and was the only person caring for her children. He asked if the court could imposed a suspended sentence on her.

Judge Corcoran said the woman had a suspended sentence imposed on her already and the court had to consider a community service order but there was a possibility she would breach that because she had young children.

The judge said her hands were tied but stated Ms Maloney could not simply drive with no insurance when she was disqualified.

When Mr Foley asked if the woman could be ordered to undertake a driver awareness course Judge Corcoran said it would be 2032 before she would be getting her licence back.

The judge said that “very reluctantly” she would give Ms Maloney “one last opportunity” and imposed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years on condition she be of good behaviour.

She disqualified her from driving for five years for having no insurance but said that ban would run concurrently with the existing one.

Also, a one-month suspended prison sentence was imposed for having no driving licence.

“You're extremely lucky Ms Maloney,” Judge Corcoran told the woman.