A Co Clare motorist has been issued 52 Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs) for alleged driving offences, despite having no penalty points before this case, a court has heard.
Judge Francis Comerford told Shannon care assistant Sarah Jane McInerney (29) “I don’t believe a word you are saying” after she claimed she did not receive a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice in the post for using a mobile phone while driving her 241 D registered car on the R471 at Tullyvarraga, Shannon, Co Clare on April 21st, 2025, reports Breaking News.
At Ennis Circuit Court, State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey, told the court that this was McInerney’s fourth appearance since 2022 where she gave sworn evidence in separate cases denying receipt of FCPNs.
On the previous three occasions, judges struck out the driving prosecutions and any associated penalty points based on her sworn testimony, reports Breaking News.
Casey asked McInerney how many times she had appeared at Ennis courthouse before to claim she had not received FCPNs.
McInerney replied: “I am not sure to be honest,” and Casey reminded her it was three times, reports Breaking News.
Casey said that McInerney’s excuse of not receiving a FCPN “has run out” and added, “The postal service is not that bad.”
McInerney explained that all 48 houses in her Inbhear na Sionna estate in Shannon “are all identical” and her house at No 36 has no number, leading to occasional post mix-ups, including receiving neighbours’ mail, reports Breaking News.
McInerney confirmed she had no penalty points, while Casey stated that a total of 52 FCPNs had been issued to her for alleged driving offences.
She was appealing a €300 district court fine for holding a mobile phone while driving, but Judge Comerford upheld the decision, doubling the fine to €600 and applying penalty points.
He said: “I just can’t regard her as a credible witness at this point,” reports Breaking News.
Judge Comerford added: “This case shows why people can take gross advantage of the FCPN system, and I am satisfied that Sarah Jane McInerney is taking gross advantage of the system.”
He explained that the system works because “the vast majority of people are honest when they receive their penalty notice” and that it would not be economically sensible to replace it, reports Breaking News.
The judge described the case as “a classic example of why the system is not good” when relying on ordinary post to issue FCPNs.
Garda Michael Daniels said McInerney was “a bit irate” when stopped on April 21st, 2025, and added: “She told me I should have better things to be doing on a bank holiday and she should be entitled to answer her phone. She said I should be instead stopping drug dealers,” reports Breaking News.
McInerney told the court she had answered a work call when using her mobile phone.
She also told Casey it was “bit inconvenient for me to be even be here today…I don’t want to be coming to court” and said she should be at work, reports Breaking News.
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