A former Donegal footballer who is in prison for causing serious injury to a cyclist during a time when he was banned from driving has been convicted of possessing cocaine.
Kevin McMenamin appeared before Letterkenny District Court.
McMenamin, a 43-year-old of Churchtown, Termon, was charged with possession of cocaine. The charge is contrary to section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
McMenamin appeared via video link from Loughan House Prison, where he is in custody. He spoke only to confirm that he was pleading guilty to the charge and confirm his planned release date to the court.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that gardai were on foot patrol at Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, on September 2, 2023. Officers observed McMenamin who started to act suspiciously.
A search under the Misuse of Drugs Act was performed and cocaine valued at €50 was located.
Sergeant Collins said that McMenamin was fully cooperative and apologetic.
The court heard that McMenamin has 35 previous convictions.
Solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian said his client is currently serving a sentence and is due for release in May, 2025. Mr Dorrian said his client conceded that the cocaine was for his own personal use and made admissions.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham convicted McMenamin and fined him €200.
In January, McMenamin was sentenced to 21 months in prison when he appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
He was charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to a female cyclist in her 60s.
McMenamin was disqualified from driving when he was driving a truck on July 22, 2021 and broke a red light at the junction of Herbert Park Road and Morehampton Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 before making a sudden turn, colliding with the cyclist.
The woman was trapped between the two sets of wheels on the truck and dragged for two metres before surrounding motorists alerted the truck-driver by sounding their horns.
The woman spent 19 weeks in hospital and McMenamin was jailed for 21 months by Judge Martin Nolan.
At that hearing, the court heard that McMenamin played for Donegal in a National League final and had trials for Aston Villa and Celtic.
McMenamin was also disqualified from driving for five years.