No disqualification for woman caught driving without insurance in Dungloe

A woman who was caught driving without insurance has not been disqualified from holding a licence due to family needs, and it being a first offence. 

Nubia Sleutjes, 49, of 89 The Gardens, Ballymacool, Letterkenny, was before An Clochan Liath / Dungloe District Court on Tuesday, January 13. She admitted driving without insurance on July 22, 2025 at Little Bridge, Dungloe. 

Inspector Seamus McGonigle told the court that Sleutjes was driving a blue Toyota Corolla when stopped by Garda Heaney. The garda made a demand for her to produce her insurance to a nominated garda station within ten days. She failed to do so.

The inspector told the court that Sleutjes had no previous convictions, and had been fully cooperative. 

Solicitor Kieran O’Gorman said his client was a Brazilian national who had been in the country for three years. She worked part-time, and her husband worked full-time. 

He explained that Sleutjes had been a named driver on another vehicle that had been insured in her husband’s name. However, her husband had changed the car, and the new policy ‘hadn’t come into being’ at the time of the offence.

Mr O’Gorman said the family have integrated well into life in Letterkenny. 

“I ask you not to take away her licence in the circumstances,” he said.

Judge Emile Daly imposed a mandatory conviction, and fined the defendant €350 for driving without insurance, with the offence of failing to produce insurance taken into consideration. 

However, the judge did not impose a disqualification from holding a licence, saying: “She has no previous convictions and she requires the car to be able to drive for domestic and family reasons.”