A LETTERKENNY man who crashed after a high-speed pursuit was found to be four times over the drink-driving limit.
Thomas Collier of Glenwood Park avoided a prison sentence when he appeared before Letterkenny District Court.
On June 7, 2020, Garda Daly was conducting a speed check in a marked patrol car at Coolboy, Kilmacrennan when he clocked a grey Vauxhall Cavalier driving at 181km/h in a a 100km/h zone.
The driver traveled towards Illistrin on the N56 and Garda Daly signalled for him to stop.
Sergeant Gerard Dalton said a pursuit took place through six town lands before the driver lost control at Knocknamona, Letterkenny, crashing into a verge on the opposite side of the road.
The driver exited through the passenger side and a foot chase ensued before the man was located at Windyhall.
The man was arrested and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station where a he was found to have 210 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood – over four times the legal limit.
The court heard that Collier had a number of previous convictions for driving with no insurance and drink driving. Previously, he had been served with driving bans of seven and five years.
“He doesn’t have a great record of compliance with road traffic laws,” Judge Alan Mitchell said.
“The gap in years of offending is the only thing stopping him from going to prison.”
Solicitor for Collier, Mr Frank Dorrian, said his client had ‘a number of challenges in his life’.
“He made a very arrowing discovery regarding a family member and he has had to come to grips with matters that were troubling him,” he said.
“He was in a dark place as a result of that experience. He has endured, but he has dealt with that.
“He is otherwise very pleasant has managed his addiction.”
Mr Dorrian informed the Court that Collier had completed the ProSocial driving course.
For the offence of drink driving, Judge Mitchell disqualified Collier for three years and imposed a €200 fine.
Judge Mitchell disqualified Collier for three years for dangerous driving and fined him €200.
A charge of driving without insurance was struck out after documentation was produced.
“The only reason you have avoided prison is the gap in offending,” Judge Mitchell said. “I disqualified for three years because of the behaviour on the day and also the past record.”
Recognisance of €1000 was fixed in the event of an appeal.