Groom-to-be tells Donegal judge he forgot to pay speeding fine amid wedding plans

An under-pressure groom-to-be told a Donegal judge that he was so busy making plans for his upcoming wedding that he forgot to pay a speeding fine.

Gareth Stewart was caught by Gardai traveling at 120kph in a 100kph zone at Dromore, Letterkenny, on May 20, 2024.

Stewart appeared at Letterkenny District Court after receiving a summons to attend court having failed to pay a fixed charge penalty notice.

An apologetic Stewart told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that he received the fine six weeks before his wedding. He said he misplaced the fine which came in the post.

Stewart, with a previous address at Knockalla Park in Derry, pleaded guilty to the speeding offence.

He explained: "I was due to get married at the time and I was living in Dublin and the letters were simply misplaced.

"When I was made aware of them, I called to make the payment but I was told that it was too late and I would have to come to court.

"I should have been on top of it but I had a lot on at the time."

Judge Cunningham said she was fining Stewart the original charge he would have had to pay, which was €320, and gave him six months to pay the fine.