Drunk man caught on horse and cart ‘reined’ in by Gardai

January 17, 2023

A Letterkenny man who took a horse and trap to get cigarettes was found to be almost three-and-a-half times the legal drink-drive limit.

Danny Connors was before Letterkenny District Court after the incident on June 20, 2021.

Gardai were on Main Street, Letterkenny when they observed Connors come up the Port Road on what was described as ‘a horse drawn carriage’.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that Garda Eoin Nicholson had spoken to Connors twenty minutes previously at his address and noted that he was ‘highly intoxicated’.

Gardai followed Connors, who was observed swaying on the road, Sergeant Dalton said.

Connors refused to stop and continued onto Pearse Road. Connors was also shouting abuse at the time.

When stopped, Connors was arrested for an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 2010.

A subsequent test showed that Connors, a 48-year-old with an address at Canal Road, Neil T Blaney Road, Letterkenny had a reading of 177 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

The court heard that Connors has ‘a number’ of previous convictions, including for a similar charge in 2018.

Connors also has previous for resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer and a number of road traffic matters.

Solicitor for Connors, Mr Michael Shiel, said his client took the horse and cart, ‘against his better judgement’, to get cigarettes.

“In the cold light of day, he holds his hands up and he apologises for his behaviour,” Mr Shiel said.

“He apologises profusely and assures me that it won’t happen again.”

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham asked that a probation and welfare report, to include a recommendation on Connors’ suitability for community service, be prepared.

The case was adjourned to April 24.

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