Young driver who flipped his car after swerving to avoid a fox was over the limit

A young student, who flipped his car onto its roof after swerving to avoid a fox on the road, was almost double the limit when gardai breathalysed him after the crash.

Paul Doherty, of Gort Na Mara, Carndonagh, pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving and was banned for one year when he appeared before Carndonagh District Court.

A separate charge of careless driving against the 22-year-old was withdrawn by the State, in light of his guilty plea.

Garda Sergeant Conor Mulkerns presented the facts of the case, which was heard at Buncrana Courthouse.

He said the incident arose from a single-vehicle road traffic collision in the townland of Glasha, Carndonagh on August 22, 2024.

Paul Doherty was driving at Glasha, Carndonagh, that night when he took sudden evasive action to avoid a fox on the roadway.

Sgt Mulkerns said he oversteered his vehicle and rolled it as a result.

A front-seat passenger was brought to Letterkenny University Hospital for assessment, while there was no injury to the driver, Mr Doherty.

Mr Doherty failed a roadside breath test, however, and was subsequently arrested and conveyed to Buncrana Garda Station, where analysis of his breath showed that he had an alcohol level of 37 microgrammes, which is almost double the legal limit of 22 microgrammes.

Defending, solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn said his client had a previously unblemished record.

“My client is a 22-year-old man. He’s a student of mechanical engineering in Belfast. He’s single and lives at home with his parents.”

“He has no previous convictions, nor penalty points, and he cooperated fully with the guards.”

Mr MacLochlainn went on to explain the circumstances surrounding what happened.

“On this particular night, he swerved to avoid a fox, which had run across the road in front of him. He hit the ditch, and the car overturned as a result.”

“Fortunately, the young lady in the car wasn’t badly injured, and there’s no claim or anything like that. He himself was fortunate, too.”

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Judge O’Reilly asked whether Mr Doherty was seeking a postponement to his ban.

“No. He’s happy to get it over and done with,” his solicitor replied.

The judge then imposed a one-year disqualification and a fine of €200, payable within three months.

He gave the young defendant credit for his early guilty plea and his previous good record.