A LETTERKENNY motorist turned back into the path of Gardaí after being observed racing on a public road.
Judge Alan Mitchell told 30-year-old Odhran McGarrigle to repeat a new mantra of ‘no licence, no work’ when he appeared at Letterkenny District Court this week.
McGarrigle, of Listillion Letterkenny, was charged with dangerous driving at De Valera Road, Letterkenny on June 20, 2021.
Sergeant Jim Collins said Gardai observed two vehicles, one a Honda Civic being driven by McGarrigle, ‘traveling together at speed towards the hill, side-by-side’.
McGarrigle, the court heard, went around the hospital and was stopped by Gardaí coming down the hill again.
Defence solicitor, Mr Kieran Dillon, said McGarrigle’s licence was ‘essential’.
“No licence, no work,” Mr Dillon said.
Judge Mitchell reminded McGarrigle that driving ‘is a privilege not a right’.
“This put other members of the public in danger. If you think it’s cook, then it really isn’t,” Judge Mitchell said.
“If you think that you can drive this way, repeat to yourself: ‘No licence, no work’.”
Judge Mitchell said it was an act of ‘pure stupidity’.
Reducing the charge to one of carless driving, Judge Mitchell fined McGarrigle €500. McGarrigle also received five penalty points for the offence.