‘Fishtail’ move nets motorist a fine

A Mayo man has been fined after performing a ‘fishtail’ manoeuvre on a busy Letterkenny road.

Conor Moran was before Letterkenny District Court in connection with the incident on June 17, 2023.

The court heard that Sergeant Michael Kilcoyne was in an unmarked vehicle on the opposite lane when he saw Moran exit the Applegreen service station at Bonagee in a blue Lexus.

Traffic was said to have been ‘at a standstill and a lot of people were hanging around’.

Sergeant Kilcoyne saw Moran edge onto the road and rev the car before taking off. Moran then performed a ‘fishtail’ manoeuvre for around 100 metres.

Moran, aged 35 and from Greeve, Breaffy, Castlebar, was represented by solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher.

“He was showing off to the general public,” Mr Gallagher said. “No people were in danger. He was apologetic when Gardai approached.”

Mr Gallagher said his client was ‘rather anxious’ over the case.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham accepted a plea to a careless driving charge. Moran was convicted and fined €200 with five months to pay.

Judge Cunningham said: “This court is not going to tolerate this type of behaviour.”