Two brothers checked themselves and their wives into a local hotel and ran up a bill of almost €700 using a false credit card.
Gerard and Martin Lawrence ordered food and drink to their rooms at the Radisson Hotel in Letterkenny.
However, management became suspicious and decided to process their credit card which was declined.
When hotel staff were not looking, the men and their wives, both originally from Athboy in Co Meath, fled the hotel.
Their rooms were checked but all of their personal belongings had gone.
Gardai were alerted and a description of the men was taken from CCTV.
Gardai then located the accused men and their wives at Lower Main Street in the town.
They initially denied they had stayed at the Radisson but then admitted the charges and were arrested.
The men appeared at Letterkenny District Court today charged with obtaining goods and services without paying on August 8th last year.
Solicitor Kieran O’Gorman told the court that this was a sill escapade undertaken when there was certain amount of drink taken.
A total bill of €679 including accommodation, food and drink had been run up at the hotel.
Solicitor O’Gorman said the men were up visiting friends when the incident happened and that the hotel had been compensated in full.
Both men, Gerard Lawrence, aged 25, from Bridge Street, Athboy and his brother Martin, 21, of Westside Apartments, Letterkenny, were were fined €200 by Judge Paul Kelly and given six months to pay.
Other charges were taken into consideration.
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