Young Buncrana forklift driver crashed into farmer’s wall in sheer act of ‘lunacy’

An uninsured teenager, who was over the alcohol limit and on his phone when he crashed into a wall earlier this year, has been banned from driving for one year and fined €500 in court.

Forklift driver Noah Doherty, of The Moyle, Ludden, Buncrana, admitted charges of drink driving and driving without insurance when he appeared before Buncrana District Court.

A separate charge of dangerous driving against the 19-year-old was struck out, in light of the guilty pleas to the other charges.

Judge Deirdre Gearty described the teenager’s actions as “lunacy” and said he was lucky he wasn’t killed.

Sergeant Conor Mulkerns outlined the evidence against the defendant, telling the court how gardai were called to a report of a single-vehicle road traffic collision at Clonglash, Buncrana on May 18, 2025.

Upon arrival at the scene, gardai observed how a 2005-registered grey Volkswagen Golf had been crashed into a boundary wall attached to a property.

They spoke with Noah Doherty, who admitted, following caution, that he had been driving the vehicle at the time.

Mr Doherty was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. A subsequent sample of his breath was taken at Buncrana Garda Station, and it came back with a reading of 37 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

A separate demand was made for proof of his insurance, but no documents were produced.

Sgt Mulkerns further outlined how Mr Doherty was a specified driver on a learner permit at the time, and how he has no previous convictions.

Defending the case, solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn said his client – who appeared in court wearing jeans, a shirt and a jumper – is a single man who lives at home with his grandmother.

Mr MacLochlainn said his client is likely to lose his job as a result of the incident.

“He’s a forklift driver by occupation, and because he’s going to lose his licence for at least a year, he’s going to lose his job – unless he can confine himself to the yard, where he’s working.”

The solicitor explained what happened on the night Mr Doherty was apprehended.

“He was out on this particular night, and he had gotten a lift home – but for some reason, he then decided to get into his own car and he drove back into town.”

“He was driving on the outskirts of the town, and he reached over to get his phone – someone had rang him – he took his eyes off the road for a few seconds and crashed into a wall.”

Mr MacLochlainn said the teenager has since attempted to make amends for his actions and was fully cooperative with the gardai on the night.

“He went into the farmer’s house and told the farmer that he was responsible for what happened, and he has since paid the money back for the wall, which cost him €500.”

“His own car was written-off as well, and he has lost that money too. It was valued at €2,000 but obviously he hadn’t got it insured. He was quoted €2,000 for the insurance and he had been saving up for that.”

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At this juncture, Judge Deirdre Gearty interjected: “When you do that, you wait until you have the insurance paid before you sit into the car and drive it. You don’t go out and drive it while you’re still saving.”

She described the whole escapade as “lunacy”.

Mr MacLochlainn outlined how the alcohol reading carried a mandatory one-year ban, however he asked the judge to use her discretion in relation to the no insurance offence, and not to impose a disqualification.

The judge addressed the defendant directly: “Mr Doherty, that was an incredibly stupid thing to do on the night in question. You’re lucky you weren’t killed.”

“Let it be a salutory lesson to you, that this is not the way to go. You cannot drive your car under the influence of drink, and you cannot drive your car without insurance.”

“Mr MacLochlainn has done a very good job for you, and the Sergeant has been very fair as well, by withdrawing the dangerous driving charge.”

On the charge of drink-driving, Judge Gearty imposed a one-year disqualification and a fine of €250. She said there will be a penalty points implication as well, “but I’ve no role in that”.

She issued an additional €250 fine for the no insurance charge, but spared the young defendant a second ban.

“I won’t disqualify you in relation to the no insurance. I have discretion when it’s a first offence, and I’ll exercise that.”

She gave him five months to pay the total of €500 in fines.

“Let it be a lesson to you; we really don’t need to see you for this type of thing in court again,” Judge Gearty warned.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” Mr Doherty replied, before leaving the courtroom.