Ukrainian mum living in Moville fined €350 for driving her car without insurance

A Ukrainian woman living in Moville, who drove without insurance, has been fined €350 in court and warned that insurance is compulsory.

Daria Sydorenko, of 7 Mill Glen, Moville, pleaded guilty to a charge of no insurance at Carndonagh District Court.

The court heard how the 35-year-old is a widowed mother-of-one, who has been living here for three years, having fled the fighting in her native Ukraine.

Defence solicitor Rory O’Brien said Ms Sydorenko’s husband had passed away from illness prior to the outbreak of Russian invasion, and she has now made her home with her son in Inishowen.

Sgt Mulkerns presented the evidence in court, explaining how the defendant was observed driving a vehicle – a 2005-registered Mercedes Benz C180 – at Ballynally, Moville on February 18, 2025.

She was stopped by Garda Shaun McLaughlin, who suspected that there was no insurance on the vehicle.

The vehicle was detained at the scene, and a lawful demand was made for Ms Sydorenko to produce details of her insurance, but no such details were subsequently provided.

The court was told that Ms Sydorenko has no previous convictions and that she holds a full Ukrainian driving licence, which is valid here.

Solicitor O’Brien said his client had entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. He said there was “a degree of ignorance” in relation to the law and that she hadn’t wilfully set out to commit an offence.

“She didn’t understand the situation. She has a policy of insurance now, which she took up very shortly afterwards, when she realised she was in the wrong,” he said.

“She now understands that she should have had insurance. She indicates that this was the only time she had been driving that vehicle. It was her vehicle and it had been gifted to her, but she hadn’t been using it, other than on this occasion.”

“She was not in any way purposely refusing to comply with the law in this country. It was simply ignorance of the situation,” the solicitor stressed.

Mr O’Brien said his client is currently taking part in a course with a view to employment, and needs her licence to get to classes.

“She’s not working at the moment, but she’s currently taking part in an educational course with the local Education and Training Board.”

“She resides in Moville and she travels to Carndonagh, which is a significant distance that would not be easily accessible, other than by private transport.”

“She tells me that she’s gone back to education to better herself and her family. She has travelled to Ireland and made this country her home; she resides with her 11-year-old and her elderly mother.”

Mr O’Brien told the judge that his client has since straightened things out.

“She’s fully apologetic and she has regularised the situation since,” he said.

Sgt Mulkerns told the court that the Ukrainian woman has not come to any negative Garda attention, either before or since this incident.

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Judge Monika Leech said she would not impose a driving disqualification given that it was a first offence and given the circumstances of the case.

“It appears to me that she has now taken that step to become insured, so I’m going to exercise my discretion, particularly in circumstances where she has faced challenges to get here, and is trying her very best to make a future for herself – and I hope it is a great success for her.”

The judge imposed a fine of €350, with five months to pay, and she warned the defendant’s solicitor.

“I want this lady to understand that it’s really important to be insured in this country because it has knock-on effects for everyone when people are not insured.”

“Insurance is compulsory, and hopefully she’ll never appear before this court again. But if she does appear again, she will be disqualified.”