Learner driver caught driving unaccompanied at the same place in Sligo twice within 10 months

A learner driver was stopped at a checkpoint for driving unaccompanied and for not displaying L plates. She was charged after being stopped at R294 Rathscanlon on November 5, 2024, and again after being stopped at the same location on August 27, 2025, for driving unaccompanied as a learner driver. A Fixed Charge Penalty Notice was issued for the later offence and was not paid. The defence said she was learning to drive and normally had a friend onboard, but the friend was unavailable on both occasions. The court noted her prior history, including penalty points and potential disqualification, and imposed fines of €100 on each charge.

"Sgt McDonagh told the court that gardaí were carrying out a checkpoint when they stopped Ralawe at 8:57am, who was not accompanied as a learner driver and had no L plates displayed. On August 22, 2025, at 2:25pm, gardaí were carrying out a checkpoint at the same location when they stopped Ralawe, who was driving unaccompanied as a leaner driver again. The defendant was issued with a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice which went unpaid."

"Mr Adrian Gillick, solicitor (defending), told Judge Ciaran Liddy that his client was learning to drive at the time and that normally she would have a friend onboard with her. He added that on these two occasions, Ralawe's friend was unavailable. He continued that his client does realise the seriousness of the charges and that she is facing disqualification."

"Mr Gillick said that Ralawe had a chequered past and that she was the mother of five children. He added that his client was in emergency accommodation at the time of the offences. Mr Gillick replied that his client failed her driving test last June due to a defect on her car. He added that she was still on the waiting list for a test."

"Mr Gillick said that Ralawe had eight penalty points and was facing a six-month disqualification due to her chequered past with road traffic convictions. Judge Liddy noted that it had been 11 years since Ralawe's last incident. He fined the defendant €100 on each charge."

Read at Irish Independent