A drunk man found pushing a bike on a busy dual carriageway at nighttime has been fined in court.
Gintaras Jankauskas, who was previously convicted of attempting to drive a pedal cycle while drunk, appeared before Letterkenny District Court.
Sergeant Jim Collins outlined the details of the incident to Judge Éiteáin Cunningham. He said Gardai received a call at 9.15pm on February 20, 2024 about a male pushing a pedal cycle on the dual carriageway at Dromore, Letterkenny.
Officers went to the scene and located Jankauskas, wearing dark clothing, pushing the bike. He was highly intoxicated, Sergeant Collins said, and was a danger to himself and to others.
Following his arrest, Jankauskas, aged 56 and of Churchlands, Manorcunningham, was said to have been fully cooperative with Gardai.
A fixed charge penalty notice (FCPN) was issued, but was not paid.
Sergeant Collins told the court that Jankauskas has a previous conviction for attempting to drive a pedal cycle while under the influence of an intoxicant.
Mr Donough Cleary, solicitor for Jankauskas, told the court: “We have improved as we don’t seem to be riding the bike whilst drunk now.”
Mr Cleary said his client has now secured employment via a community employment scheme and there is a “logistical issue”.
He said Jankauskas has since bought a high-vis jacket and did not understand what the fixed charge penalty notice represented.
A previous court sitting heard how Jankauskas is clinically blind.
Judge Cunningham asked an interpreter, who was present to aid the accused, to explain that he had been a danger to himself and to other road users.
Judge Cunningham said she noted Jankauskas’s previous convictions, but said this was not an attempt to cycle,
On a charge contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, Jankauskas was convicted and fined €200. Judge Cunningham allowed six months to pay.