Ban for drunk-driver who crashed into parked car and pillar at Cathedral

A drunk driver who crashed into a parked car and destroyed a concrete pillar at St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny has been banned from driving.

Joseph Gallagher was three-and-a-half times the legal limit when he caused €2,531 worth of damage.

The 34-year-old, with an address at Kirchen Road, West Eeling, London, was disqualified from driving for three years at Letterkenny District Court.

Gallagher was not present for the case, but was represented by his solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian.

Inspector Tony Byrne told the court that Gardai were alerted to a white Vauxhall van that crashed into the railing at the Cathedral car park on October 2, 2022. Inspector Byrne said that Gallagher was ‘highly intoxicated’ and the van had crashed into a parked car and also ‘destroyed’ a concrete pillar. Some €2,531 of damage was caused.

A subsequent test of Gallagher showed 76 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. Gallagher has no previous convictions, the court heard.

Mr Dorrian said his client had too much to drink and had made a ‘clumsy effort to get out of the car park’.

Judge Ciaran Liddy disqualified Gallagher from driving for three years and fined him €150, allowing three months to pay.