Donegal woman cites pressure from abusive partner in dangerous driving case

A woman who appeared in a Donegal court on a dangerous driving charge claimed that she “did not have the power to say no” to an abusive partner who was sitting in the car at the time of the incident. 

The woman, aged in her 40s, was before Letterkenny District Court, which heard the matter outlined.

Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that on a date in November, 2022, at Mountain Top, Letterkenny, the defendant was driving a vehicle which failed to yield on a roundabout, causing another vehicle to brake suddenly.

The woman’s solicitor, Ms Catherine Boner, told the court that there was a plea to the charge.

“It has taken her quite a while to get here,” Ms Boner said. “She did not have the power to say no.

“The relationship is now over and this man is out of her life.

“She was in quite an abusive relationship and he was making her drive in the way she was.”

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham convicted the woman and fined her €150, allowing six months to pay. 

Noting there were no previous convictions and the circumstances outlined by the solicitor, Judge Cunningham said she was not going to disqualify the woman from driving on this occasion.