Donegal Court hears green diesel found after car suffered 'mechanical difficulty'

A Donegal man who was found to be using green diesel in his car has been fined €2,500 in court.

The case of John Gallagher was before Glenties District Court. 

Gallagher, of Edergole, Lough Eske, Donegal Town was charged with an offence contrary to section 102 (i), (b) (ii) and (2) of the Finance Act, 1999 as substituted by section 61 (1) of the Finance Act, 2007, as amended by section 77 of the Finance Act, 2008.

State Solicitor for Donegal, Mr Kieran Dillon, told the court that Customs officers stopped Gallagher at Corravaddy, Letterkenny on May 13, 2025.

Gallagher was pulled in at 11.57am and an officer drew a sample from the fuel tank, which was positive for prescribed markers.  

Gallagher was interviewed at the roadside by officers and when asked if he put marked gas into the fuel tank he said: “I don’t have any explanation”.

A sample was sent for analysis and was found to have the prescribed markers present.

The court heard that Gallagher, who pleaded guilty to this offence, has no previous convictions.

Mr Francis Gillespie said that the vehicle was giving “mechanical difficulty” and his client was advised that the use of kerosene could cure the difficulties. He said the vehicle was emitting a lot of smoke at the time.

Mr Gillespie told Judge Emile Daly that on the day in question there was “the remnants of kerosene in the tank”.

Mr Gillespie said that Gallagher has met the charge as best he can and is a married man who had suffered tragedy in recent years. 

Judge Daly said the minimum fine she could apply was one of €2,500. Gallagher was convicted and fined €2,500.