A CO Wexford man fish-tailed his Subaru Impreza in front of a garda car during the rally weekend, Letterkenny District Court has heard.
Kenneth Murphy of Carrigure, Ferns, pleaded guilty to careless driving during what his solicitor described as a “moment of madness” on June 18.
Solicitor Kieran Dillon told Judge Paul Kelly that 27-year-old Murphy was deeply remorseful about his actions and had since put his car up for sale.
He said Murphy’s family was deeply upset at his arrest as he had no previous convictions and he needed his car for his work as a mechanic.
He said the family had suffered a personal loss in recent years and had raised more than €40,000 for the Console charity and Murphy’s behaviour was out of character for a man who contributed so much to society.
Judge Kelly said that if Murphy wanted to drive a rally car he should enter the rally and drive like that inside the controlled circumstances of the race.
He fined Murphy €500 and warned him he would lose his licence if he returned to Donegal and drove in the same way again.