Drunk farmer caught driving at 160kph to buy cigarettes is banned

November 7, 2020

A drink-driving farmer who was stopped by Gardai doing 160kph on his way to get a packet of cigarettes has been banned from driving for three years.

Carrigans man Kenneth Gallaugher appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he said he just wanted the matter sorted.

The 59-year-old was stopped by Gardai at Sharon Glebe on the N13 on Manorcunningham on the evening of August 13th last.

Garda Pat Geraghty told the court that when he stopped Gallaugher he got a strong smell of alcohol from him.

He was arrested and a breath sample taken showed a reading of 69 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Garda Geraghty said that when the charges of dangerous driving and drink-driving were put to the accused, he didn’t speak but just shook his head.

Gallaugher told the court that he had been on his way to the shop for a packet of cigarettes and was rushing home.

Judge Paul Kelly replied, “If you drive at that speed you might not get home or someone else might not get home.”

Mr Gallaugher agreed and said he was not proud of what he had done.

Judge Kelly struck out the dangerous driving charge but fined the accused €250 and banned him from driving for the mandatory period of three years.


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