Donegal man five times the limit when he crashed is handed driving ban

A Derrybeg man who was more than five times over the legal drink-driving limit when he was involved in a crash has been put off the road for three years.

Stephen McCole appeared before Falcarragh District Court this week.

McCole, a 34-year-old with an address at Strand Road, Derrybeg, was charged with drink-driving.

Inspector Seamus McGonigle told the court that gardai were called to a two-vehicle road traffic collision at 6.04pm on July 4, 2022.

Officers spoke to McCole, who was the driver of a black Volkswagen Golf. Gardai noticed that McCole was unsteady on his feet and slurring his speech while they also detected a small of intoxicating liquour.

Having formed the opinion that McCole was drink-driving, they arrested him and conveyed to Milford Garda Station.

McCole provided a sample of blood that showed a concentration of 264 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, where the legal limit is 50 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for McCole, said his client was apologetic and co-operative on the evening in question.

Mr Gallagher said his client had been working away for 'some time' and hopes to return to England for work.

A mandator three-year disqualification from driving was handed to McCole, who was also fined €150.