A suspended prison sentence and fines have been imposed on a daughter of former government minister and EU commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, when she was convicted yesterday of more than 20 motoring offences.
Audrey Flynn, of Manor Village, Castlebar, was also disqualified from driving for 10 years at Castlebar District Court.
Fines totalling £6,800 were imposed on Flynn, who faced 46 different summonses relating to driving a school mini-bus without insurance and without a roadworthiness certificate and for failing to have a public service vehicle licence.
Ms Flynn was also convicted of making a false declaration to obtain insurance and of making a false declaration to obtain a public service driving licence.
A hearing of the case at last month's court sitting had been adjourned to allow a psychiatric report be carried out on Flynn after Judge Mary Devins described her evidence as one of "complete breathtaking arrogance".
She stated that the offences warranted a prison sentence and that she needed time to consider the case.
The judge had added that Flynn's failure to acknowledge and appreciate the reality and gravity of the situation she was facing was such that she needed a professional medical opinion before passing judgement.
A medical report on the defendant was handed in at yesterday's hearing, following which, the judge quickly dispensed sentence, suspended the six-month prison term for one year, on condition that she did not have any further road traffic violations
Flynn also received two concurrent three-month prison sentences which were also suspended on the same condition.
Judge Devins said she did not propose to comment on the contents of the report. Mr Pat Moran, solicitor for Flynn, said the defendant was a single mother with a 16-week-old baby and was engaged in running her own creche, which she managed, as well as looking after her child.
She had the appropriate qualifications and certification to run the business and employed four or five people. He said she was, and remained a responsible person, except in the matters before the court.
He agreed she had shown "gross irresponsibility" in these offences.
Judge Devins said she could not ignore the fact that there were 46 summonses which related to no insurance, no tax, no driving licence, no PSV licence, no certificate of road worthiness and false declarations.
She added that the summonses related to a number of separate dates and to three different vehicles.
At the request of Mr Moran, Judge Devins agreed to allow the defendant six months to pay all fines.
Flynn's partner, Mark Winters, also of Manor Village, Castlebar, was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay fines totalling £1,000 on convictions of driving with no tax, insurance or driving licence at last month's sitting.