SISTER ACT | 

Learner driver in ‘panic’ lied to gardaí by giving her sister’s details when stopped in Phibsborough

Today at 09:06

A provisional driver thought the car she was in was going to be seized by gardaí, so she “panicked” and pretended to be her sister, a court has heard.

Hayleigh Reynolds (26) ended up spending three hours in a cell when gardaí discovered she had given them the wrong name.

Judge Bryan Smyth said he would strike the case out, leaving her without a criminal record if she made a €200 charity donation.

Reynolds, of St Peter’s Close, Royal Canal Bank, Phibsborough, pleaded guilty to giving gardaí false details.

Sergeant Máire McDevitt told Dublin District Court gardaí were on patrol at Phibsborough Road on October 3 when they saw the accused driving a Nissan Qashqai. She was using a mobile phone while driving and the gardaí stopped her.

When asked for her licence she was unable to show it but said she had a full licence and gave a false name and date of birth.

She was arrested and her correct details were established. Reynolds, who had no previous convictions, had a provisional licence and was driving her mother’s car at the time, her solicitor Matthew de Courcy said. Her mother was a passenger.

The garda had told her the car would be taken if she was not fully licensed and she “panicked and gave her sister’s name”.

The car was impounded and she was taken to a garda station where she spent three hours in a cell, which “shook” her.

The accused worked in dermatology and the offence was a once-off, Mr De Courcy said.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​