Ban and €500 fine for man convicted of dangerous driving and drink driving

A 20-year-old man who admitted charges of drink driving and dangerous driving has been fined €500 and disqualified from holding a licence for four years. 

Mark Fisher, of Ballymagroarty, Ballintra, was before a recent sitting of Donegal District Court sitting in Ballyshannon. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Abbeylands, Ballyshannon on January 14, 2025. The offence is contrary to Section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 as substituted by Section 4 of the Road Traffic (nu. 2) Act, 2011.

Fisher also admitted driving while exceeding the legal alcohol limit at Main Street, Ballintra on September 24, 2025. The offence is contrary to Section 4(4)(a) and (5) of the Road Traffic Act 2010.

Inspector Dermot Treacy to the court that there was a reading of 56mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. 

Regarding the dangerous driving incident, Inspector Treacy said gardaí had observed an Audi A4 in Ballyshannon.

“It swerved back and forth on the centre of the road, turning out of the Abbey roundabout and increasing speed to in excess of 160km/h in an 80km/h zone.. 

Solicitor Gerry McGovern said: “This man from the outset entered a plea to the drink driving charge. He cooperated fully with gardaí. 

“He has changed his life completely. At the time, he was labouring. He has got a career for himself as a trainee chef."

In relation to the dangerous driving charge, Mr McGovern said: “He dealt with it appropriately from the very beginning. He did cooperate with the gardaí when they came to his house. There was never a cross word said in the interaction.

“He is a trainee chef, travelling up and down to Enniskillen the last six months. He seldom goes out.”

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham fined €250 for each of the two charges, and disqualified from holding a licence for two years.