A man who punched a taxi-driver after he was given a lift to Letterkenny has been ordered to pay the driver a week’s wages.
Gavin Gallagher, from Dunfanagahy, assaulted the driver while he was on a night-out with his girlfriend on September 25th last.
Letterkenny District Court was told that Gallagher, of Greenhills, was very drunk and was initially refused as a passenger by the driver.
However, when he got into the vehicle he began messing and it was claimed that he struck the driver as he was driving down the road.
He was not injured and the car was not involved in any kind of collision.
Solicitor Frank Dorrian said he had spoken to the accused, aged 23, who said he remembered nothing about the night.
However, his girlfriend denied that there had been an assault.
Mr Dorrian said his client would like to apologise to the driver and that no harm was ever intended.
Judge Paul Kelly asked if Gallagher was employed and he was told he earned approximately €600 per week in construction in Dublin.
He ordered Gallagher to sacrifice one week’s wages as compensation to the taxi-driver and adjourned the case until February 26th.