Donegal Town resident convicted of three offences and handed four-year driving ban

A Donegal Town resident and father of six was convicted of three offences at Donegal District Court and disqualified from driving for four years.

Charlie Ward, 37, of 24 Oak Meadows, Brookfield, Donegal Town, appeared at Ballyshannon Courthouse and was also fined a combined €300 for the offences, which include driving under the influence of an intoxicant, dangerous driving, and refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood, or urine whilst under custody.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham agreed to postpone the driving disqualification until March 1, 2026, due to the defendant’s personal matters. 

Ward’s solicitor, Jim Corbett, said: “This is a 37-year-old man and a father of six children, and his partner is awaiting their seventh child. 

“He had just recently suffered the bereavement of two family members and was in a pretty bad state at the time. He has no previous convictions with alcohol while in control of a vehicle. He has not had a drink since February. 

“His actions were tempered by the bereavement of his close relatives at the time. He apologises, but he had slightly lost control.”

The court heard from the Garda State Prosecutor that the defendant had 16 previous convictions.

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On October 31, 2024, at Millrace Crescent, Donegal Town, the defendant was convicted for driving a vehicle while being under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the said vehicle, contrary to Section 4 (1) & (5) of the Road Traffic Act 2010. Judge Cunningham fined Ward €100 for the incident and disqualified him from driving for four years. 

During the same incident, the defendant was convicted for driving a vehicle in a manner (including speed) which, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, was dangerous to the public, or was likely to be dangerous to the public, contrary to Section 53 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as submitted by Section 4 of the Road Traffic (No 2) Act 2011. Judge Cunningham again fined Ward €100 and handed a four-year driving disqualification.

Whilst at Ballyshannon Garda Station, the defendant was further convicted for being a person arrested under Section 4 (8) of the Road Traffic Act 2010 and having been required, be a member of An Garda Síochána pursuant to Section 12 (1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act 2010 as amended to permit a designated nurse, did refuse to comply with the said requirement of the said designated nurse, contrary to Section 12 (3)(b) and 12 (4) of the Road Traffic Act 2010, as amended by Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 9 (No. 2) 2011.

The Garda State Prosecutor told the Court: “The evidence was that he was so drunk that he could only give his details. He refused the nurse when a sample of blood was required from him.”

Judge Cunningham fined Ward €100 and gave a four-year driving disqualification. The separate driving disqualification orders are to be enforced concurrently. 

Further charges were taken into consideration by Judge Cunningham, including a charge where the defendant was present on October 6, 2024, at The Diamond, Donegal Town, was present in a public place while intoxicated to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that he might endanger himself or any other person in his vicinity, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, as amended by Section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008. 

Another charge taken into consideration by Judge Cunningham was for the defendant failing to display a current tax disc on his vehicle, contrary to Section 73(1) and 76 (as amended by Section 63 of the Finance Act 1993), of the Finance Act 1976, on May 23, 2024, on the N56 at Drumark, Donegal Town.