Carndonagh driver in court after reacting to 'invisible rope' prank

A Donegal driver who was 'roped' into a TikTok prank has appeared in court after assaulting one of the teenagers involved in the incident.

The driver became outraged at a group of teenagers pretending to hold 'an invisible rope' across a road in Inishowen.

However, the prank backfired and the driver of the car ended up in court.

Carndonagh District Court heard the teenagers were taking part in the prank in Carndonagh at Halloween time in 2021.

Driver Keith McLaughlin was driving along the New Road on October 26, 2021 when he noticed two groups of teenagers on either side of the road pretending to pull a rope across the road.

McLaughlin, 61, jumped out of his car and chased one of the youths and grabbed him by his jumper.

Garda Sergeant Sean McDaid told the court that once the accused had scared the young man he let him go.

Solicitor for the accused, Mr Patrick Kelly said that once his client realised what was going on he remonstrated with the youth men.

Mr Kelly said his client simply told those taking part in the prank that they could cause a serious accident.

He told McLaughlin, with an address at Ballyloskey, Carndonagh, that he simply could not take the law into his own hands even though he was cross with the situation.

He said his client was ill at the moment and receiving treatment and could not attend court.

The court heard the accused had little or no income and his solicitor told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that the incident was an 'aberration'.

A bemused Judge Cunningham admitted that she was not familiar with the workings of the prank.

She adjourned the case until March 19, 2024 to allow for a victim impact report in the case.