Driver under the influence of drugs and without insurance in car with tyre thread exposed

A woman found driving without insurance and while under the influence of cocaine had a bald front tyre and her tyre thread was exposed.

Bernadette O’Donnell (37), from St. Patrick’s Park, Navan, was in court on two charges of drug driving and driving without insurance.

The court heard on 2nd May 2023 in the afternoon Gardai were on on a routine patrol of Navan when they saw a car with no tax or NCT being driven by the accused with other passenger in the vehicle with her. None of the people in the car had a licence, the front tyre was bald, and the tyre thread was exposed. A drug test was conducted at the scene on O’Donnell which came back positive for cocaine. A blood sample following this later showed cocaine in her system.

Her solicitor gave a guilty plea in O’Donnell’s absence. She has 23 previous convictions including for no insurance in 2014 and numerous shoplifting matters.

Ms O'Donnell was fined €300 with four months to pay and disqualified for two years on the no insurance matter.