A newly-married couple stood in the middle of a public road on their wedding day while cars did ‘doughnuts’ around them.
The couple, Michael and Siobhan Doogan, appeared at Falcarragh District Court yesterday charged with various offences in connection with the incident.
The court heard how a video of the bizarre incident appeared on the internet and went viral as a result.
The couple had married on May 30th last year at a local hotel in Gortahork.
At some stage during their big day, the couple were filmed in the middle of the N56 roadway at Gortahork while the cars circled around them.
A video of the incident was posted online and Gardai became aware of the incident.
Garda Sean O’Hara of Falcarragh Garda station told the court that he had investigated the case.
He revealed how he viewed the video which showed how the road had been blocked off at two ends so the incident could take place.
Garda O’Hara said he could show the video in court but this did not take place.
The couple, of Meenlaragh, Gortahork, faced different charges.
The only charge against Siobhan Doogan was withholding information but Gardai decided that they would withdraw this charge at the start of the case.
The same charge against Mr Doogan, relating to withholding the identity of those allegedly driving the cars, was struck out.
However Mr Doogan, aged 25, who is a windfarm engineer, was found guilty of obstruction.
Solicitor Frank Dorrian, representing Mr Doogan, said the worst thing that can be said about the newly-married groom was that he was standing in the roadway with people standing around him.
He said the couple have tried their best to navigate the crisis since the video went online and went viral.
He said his client is not going to be involved in anything of the kind again and that himself and his wife just wanted to leave it as far behind them as possible.
However Judge Paul Kelly said this was a very serious matter which could have resulted in a sad end to what was a happy occasion.
He said “This county is plagued with the scourge of these doughnuts. The fact that this has gone out on social media it is sending out the message that it is okay to come to Donegal and drive and behave like this.
“This is a serious matter and I cannot take this lightly. He may not have instigated it but by standing in the middle of the road with his new bride he facilitated it. He and his wife are lucky that nobody was injured.
“We are not lucky that we are not dealing with the aftermath of what was a happy occasion.”
Judge Kelly fined Mr Doogan €500 for obstruction and gave him four months to pay.
Meanwhile in a related case, a charge of dangerous driving against one of the alleged drivers on the day, was struck out.
Charles McClafferty, aged 34, of Glasherchoo, Gortahork, was charged with dangerous driving and obstruction.
However, the court was told that Ms Siobhan Doogan, the bride on the day, had left the court after her case and that she had not been issued with a summons in this particular case.
Gardai said that she was the only witness in the case and that it could not proceed without her evidence.
Judge Kelly said he had been left with no option but to strike the charges out.