Waitress ‘devastated’ by four-year driving ban for second no-insurance conviction

A 24-year-old Inishowen waitress has been disqualified from driving for four years after admitting a second offence of driving without insurance in less than twelve months.

Alyssa Harkin, of Ballyboe, Ture, Muff, appeared before Buncrana District Court where she pleaded guilty to a number of road traffic offences.

These included driving without insurance, as well as failing to produce insurance and failing to produce a driving licence when requested by gardaí.

Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said Ms Harkin was “devastated” at the prospect of the lengthy driving ban she faced as a result of another conviction.

The court heard that a separate charge of driving without a licence while disqualified was dismissed after it emerged that her disqualification had lapsed on the same day she was stopped by gardaí.

Sergeant Conor Mulkerns outlined the facts of the case, explaining that in the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025, at approximately 4.20am, Garda Thomas Duggan was on mobile patrol in the Ballyderowen area of Burnfoot.

During his patrol, he observed a blue 2015-DL-registered Volkswagen Golf travelling in the direction of Bridgend. Garda Duggan stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver, who identified herself as Ms Harkin.

When asked to produce proof of insurance, she was unable to provide any documentation. The court was told that Ms Harkin has two previous convictions, including a prior offence for driving without insurance dating back to October 2025, as well as a conviction for careless driving.

Solicitor Frank Dorrian, representing Ms Harkin, said his client was entering guilty pleas and acknowledged the seriousness of the offences. He told the court that although Ms Harkin had been disqualified at the time of the incident, that disqualification expired on the same day.

The earlier disqualification had arisen from a fixed charge penalty notice related to a low reading for drink driving, the solicitor told the court.

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Mr Dorrian described his client’s decision to drive as “foolish” but said there had been an understandable context. He explained that Ms Harkin had been home alone at the time, with both of her parents absent, and had taken the car in order to seek treatment for a toothache by visiting a dentist.

He characterised her actions as “a little bit impetuous” and said it was an immature decision made in difficult circumstances. He added that Ms Harkin was “devastated” at the prospect of the mandatory driving ban she faced as a result of another conviction.

The court also heard that Ms Harkin works locally as a waitress, earning the minimum wage of €13.50 per hour. Mr Dorrian noted that the loss of her licence would have a significant impact on her daily life and employment, particularly given that public transport options would not be of much assistance to her in carrying out her work.

After hearing the evidence, Judge Emile Daly said the consequences of Ms Harkin’s actions were “calamitous”. The judge noted that she had previously been treated with considerable leniency by the court in relation to her earlier no-insurance conviction.

Judge Daly explained that the court’s “hands were bound” in the matter, as legislation requires the imposition of a mandatory disqualification period of four years for a second conviction for driving without insurance within a three-year period.

While acknowledging the personal impact of the sentence, Judge Daly said Ms Harkin would have to face the consequences of her decisions.

“I do accept that the accused is going to be greatly disadvantaged by the fact that she’s now going to be disqualified for four years, at a time when she’s at an age when she’d presumably like to be mobile,” the judge said.

“That is a great burden on her, but nonetheless, she has to take account of the decisions that she took which led to this situation.”

In addition to the four-year driving ban, Judge Daly imposed a fine of €200, giving Ms Harkin four months to pay.

The judge also confirmed that certain charges would be taken into consideration and formally struck out another under Section 38. Legal aid was granted to Mr Dorrian’s office.