Six-year driving ban for man who couldn't remember taking car in Ballyshannon

A Ballyshannon man who could not remember taking another person's car while he was drunk has been given a suspended sentence.

Gerard McWeeney was also given a six-year driving ban for what his solicitor called 'a moment of madness'.

The 51-year-old McWeeney, of West Rock, Ballyshannon, was before Ballyshannon District Court in connection with the case.

McWeeney was disqualified from driving when he took a vehicle from Market Street, Ballyshannon. Gardai received a report and launched an investigation.

Officers located the car a short distance away. McWeeney was identified as the driver and he made a voluntary caution memo to gardai.

The court heard that the offence was committed while McWeeney was serving a six-year disqualification. McWeeney told gardai he could not remember the incident, but identified himself on CCTV.

Mr Frank Murphy, solicitor for McWeeney, said his client was 'in the midst of addiction' when the incident occurred.

McWeeney has not drank in the last 14 months, his solicitor said.

“He was suffering from an addiction and taking pain medication,” Mr Murphy said. “He saw the vehicle with the keys in it and drove it a short distance down the road. The vehicle was recovered.

“It was a moment of madness. He is seeking help. He is sober for 14 months now and is in part-time employment. He is making amends and not making the same mistakes as during this aberration.”

Judge Ciaran Liddy said an aggravating factor was the disqualification that McWeeney was under at the time.

McWeeney was given a six-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years by Judge Liddy on condition that the accused does not drive a mechanically propelled vehicle during that time.

Judge Liddy handed McWeeney a six-year ban from driving.

On a separate charge of having no insurance, McWeeney was given a two-year disqualification, which is to run concurrently to the other ban.