A young man fled from a Garda checkpoint and then abandoned his car and three passengers after crashing the car.
Tony Duggan took his father’s car without permission before going out on a night on the town with friends in Dunfanaghy on April 23rd last year.
On the way home, he met a Garda checkpoint which he turned back from before crashing into an oncoming at 2.18am.
Duggan, aged 20, then fled with his co-driver through fields leaving three young women in the car.
He was eventually apprehended by Gardai where he admitted driving the car.
Duggan, from Meenacladdy, Meenlaragh, Gortahork, appeared at Falcarragh District Court charged with a number of offences including drunk driving.
Garda Inspector David Kelly told the court that Duggan initially denied driving the car but then admitted being behind the wheel.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client had no previous convictions and ha learned a solitary lesson.
He said he has not been behind the wheel of any vehicle since the incident and will not be in the future.
Judge Paul Kelly told Duggan “You are lucky to be alive and lucky nobody in your car was seriously injured.”
He adjourned the case until June 20th to allow for a probation report.