A PREGNANT woman was given a suspended prison sentence at Limerick District Court for driving without insurance while she was disqualified and banned.

23-year-old mother of two, April Collins of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, and girlfriend of Gerard Dundon, appeared in court charged with intimidating a relative of the only witness in a major investigation into organised crime, as well as to answer a probation report regarding her alleged road traffic violations.

Regarding the charge of intimidation, Ms Collins was to receive the book of evidence, which would then have her sent for trial to a higher court, but the State was not yet in a position to serve it.

Inspector Brendan McDonagh told the court that the accused was still on bail and had conditions to abide by.
He also sought a further one month adjournment to serve the books to Ms Collins.

However, Sarah Ryan, solicitor, queried the delay and noted that “effectively this is a one witness book of evidence,” and that she could not see the delay.
Ms Collins is accused of intimidating the alleged injured party in Penney’s, in May this year.
She is the primary carer of her two young children and is expecting a third.

Judge O’Donnell marked the case peremptory against the State regarding the intimidation charge, and addressed the probation report brought before the court.
He noted that Ms Collins was caught three times driving while banned, and was never in a position to furnish the gardai with details of her insurance.
Ms Ryan said her client’s time in custody has made her realise the consequences of breaking the law.

Judge O’Donnell sentenced her to four months in prison and suspended it for a period of 12 months, and placed her on her own bond of €100. All other road traffic matters before the court were taken into consideration.