A Falcarragh man who drove through a checkpoint while over three times the legal limit narrowly missed colliding with gardai.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham remarked that Richard Doherty was “very lucky” that he did not kill or injure any of the officers.
Falcarragh District Court heard that Doherty believed that gardai were waving at him when he drove through a checkpoint at Main Street, Falcarragh on the night of February 2, 2025.
Details of the incident were outlined by Inspector Seamus McGonigle.
He told the court that two gardai attempted to stop a red BMW which was said to be travelling at “high speed’” at 9pm.
The vehicle failed to stop, Inspector McGonigle said, “narrowly missing the garda members”.
Doherty, a 35-year-old of Derryreel, Falcarragh, was eventually stopped and arrested. After being conveyed to Milford Garda Station a test showed a concentration of 72 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath, where the legal limit is 22.
Mr Jason Laverty, solicitor for Doherty, said his client was travelling to his brother’s house and said the incident was “unfortunate and rather stupid”.
Mr Laverty said that Doherty appeared at a garda station the next day to apologise for his action. He said Doherty knows the gardai and has expressed a deep apology.
The solicitor said: “He didn’t intentionally intend to hurt the members; he thought that they were waving to him and he actually waved back.”
Mr Laverty told the court that Doherty is the sole carer for his father and sought that he complete a Pro Social driving course before he be sentenced.
Judge Cunningham said she would deal with the matter at this point rather than defer it.
“He is very lucky that there wasn’t an injury or a fatality with the manner he drove through the checkpoint,” Judge Cunningham said.
On a charge of drink-driving, contrary to section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 2010,, Doherty was disqualified from driving for three years and fined €200.
Doherty was ordered to undertake the Pro Social court and make a €250 contribution to do so.
On a charge of dangerous driving, contrary to section 53 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, Doherty was fined €250 and a two-year driving ban was marked on that charge.