Six gardaí tried to arrest woman in her home at 3am

A mother has told a court how six gardaí arrived at her home in the middle of the night to arrest her over an unpaid fine for using a mobile phone when driving.

The 27-year-old settled Traveller was up feeding her newborn baby when gardaí knocked at the back door at her halting site shortly before 3am on Dec 5.

At Limerick Circuit Court yesterday, she won an appeal against her conviction for the offence and the fine of €250 imposed at Limerick District Court.

She was stopped in 2010 in the city centre when found using a mobile phone when driving. Her case went ahead at the district court in her absence and she was convicted and fined.

Six gardaí went to her home at a halting site in Rhebogue shortly before 3am on Dec 5 with a warrant for her arrest over non-payment of the fine.

The woman, who asked not to be named, yesterday told Judge Carroll Moan she never received any written notification in the post of her case or the fine she received. The first she knew of the court proceedings was when gardaí called to her home.

The judge allowed the appeal against conviction and the fine as he was satisfied she had not received written notification in the post.

After her appeal, the woman said: “I have never been in court before… I’m glad it’s over.”