‘Naive’ Kilkenny woman with no licence borrowed car - then crashed it

A “young and naive” woman who borrowed a friend’s car then crashed it has been convicted of motoring offences at Kilkenny District Court.

Kaylee Dinnegan, Coon East, Bilboa, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to charges of driving without insurance or a licence.

The court heard that on May 3 last gardaí were called to a crash at Coolbawn, Castlecomer. They observed a blue BMW with extensive damage and spoke to Ms Dinnegan, who admitted driving.

She told gardaí she had lost control when going around a bend.

Ms Dinnegan said she was not the owner of the car and admitted not being insured. She failed to produce insurance or a licence to a garda station within ten days.

A co-accused in court was the owner of the car. Solicitor Chris Hogan said this woman had an insurance policy that covered other people to drive her car. She had seen Ms Dinnegan driving before and assumed she had a licence.

The woman allowed her friend to borrow the BMW and it was only after the accident she discovered Ms Dinnegan did not have a licence.

Solicitor Ed Hughes, representing Ms Dinnegan, said she is 21 and a single mother of two. She lives in a remote area.

Foolish decision

On this occasion Ms Dinnegan had a friend staying with her who had a hospital appointment. Ms Dinnegan “foolishly” asked to borrow the car to bring her friend to the appointment. She crashed on the way to the hospital.

There was minor material damage caused to the car, the solicitor said.

Ms Dinnegan was “young and naive” and should not have done what she did, the solicitor said.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted Ms Dinnegan of driving without insurance and disqualified her from driving for two years. A fine of €200 was also imposed.

For driving without a licence an additional fine of €200 was handed down. Failing to produce a licence and insurance was taken into consideration.

Judge Carthy told the owner of the car she had made ‘probably one of the most unwise decisions’ when she let Ms Dinnegan borrow her car.