A student who was almost double the limit when he crashed his car in Inishowen last summer has been banned from driving for one year.
Alex Duffy, of Carrickmagrath, Ballybofey, pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge at Carndonagh District Court, which continues to sit at Buncrana Courthouse.
A separate charge of dangerous driving against the 20-year-old defendant was struck out.
Prosecuting the case, Sergeant Emmet Brady explained how Garda Magee had been on mobile patrol on Saturday, August 10, 2024, when he happened upon a road traffic collision at Minaduff, Clonmany.
Garda Magee observed a 09-DL-registered black Volkswagen Passat situated on the left-hand lane with its hazard lights flashing. There was significant damage to the driver’s side of the vehicle.
He witnessed three males standing on the road at the side of the car.
“One of the males, Alex Duffy, who is the defendant before the court, informed Garda Magee that he was involved in a road traffic collision – and the other vehicle was approximately two hundred metres away in the distance towards Buncrana,” Sgt Brady said in evidence.
The court heard that Mr Duffy further informed Garda Magee that nobody from his vehicle required medical attention.
The responding guard checked the condition of the other vehicle occupants and spoke with them. He then returned to speak to Alex Duffy, detecting a smell of alcohol from his breath, and noticing that his eyes were glazed.
After failing a roadside breath test, Mr Duffy was arrested and conveyed to Buncrana Garda Station. A second breath test was conducted at the station and the result was 41 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, which is almost double the legal limit of 22 microgrammes.
Defence solicitor Patsy Gallagher told the court that his client, who has no prior criminal convictions, had acted in an “exemplary” manner on the night of the incident.
“He’s a student and he’s here in court today with his father,” Mr Gallagher said. “His dad is actually taking him back to Dublin because he hasn’t been driving since this incident.”
“There’s no application for a postponement [of the mandatory driving ban] and his attitude on the night was exemplary. He assisted the Gardai and there were no issues there.”
Judge Eiteain Cunningham imposed a fine of €200 and a disqualification of one year on the lower reading of 41 microgrammes. Solicitor Gallagher, who was assigned Legal Aid in the case, thanked the judge on behalf of his client.