A Lifford man who has been convicted of drink-related motoring offences three times in less than six months has been warned he will go to jail if caught again.
Michael Doherty appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he was charged with being drunk in control of a vehicle.
Gardai told how they had been informed of a black Ford Focus with a 2012 registration driving dangerously from Lifford on the afternoon of January 23rd, 2019.
At St Patrick’s Terrace in Ballindrait just before 3pm they noticed a similar car.
The driver of the car, Michael Doherty, was in the driver’s seat with the engine turned on and his seatbelt on.
Gardai said they could smell alcohol from his breath and his eyes were heavy and bloodshot.
He was arrested and a breath sample showed a reading of 116 microgrammes of breath per 100 millilitres of blood.
The court heard how 41-year-old Doherty from Aghawee in Lifford had six previous convictions.
Judge Paul Kelly noted this was the third conviction for alcohol-related motoring offences in the past six months.
Doherty has since been banned from driving but was not banned when he was stopped on this occasion, the court noted.
Solicitor for the accused, Mr Kieran Dillon said his client had been staying with a friend and had bought a takeaway of alcohol but had consumed it on this occasion.
He said Doherty was going through a tough time but was trying to address his alcohol issues and to get to a better place.
Judge Kelly fined Doherty €350 and warned him that he will be forced to take a more draconian disposal for future transgressions.