A man from Letterkenny has been convicted after using vice grips to fix a leaking brake pipe on his car.
Aidan McCullagh used the vice grips to clamp the leaking brake pipe hose on the front driver’s side wheel of his Honda Civic.
The details of the incident were heard at Letterkenny District Court.
Sergeant Vincent Muldoon informed the court that Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority were conducting a checkpoint at Cashelshanaghan, Letterkenny, on June 20, 2024.
Sergeant Muldoon noted that this was the day before the Donegal International Rally commenced.
The court was also informed that the vehicle’s NCT (National Car Test) was expired since November 2022.
Sergeant Muldoon explained that an RSA inspector examined the car and found the leaking brake pipe hose clamped to the wheel using vice grips. Gardaí subsequently seized the vehicle.
Judge Eiteáin Cunningham stated that she was satisfied the vehicle had been tampered with.
Mr. Rory O’Brien, McCullagh’s solicitor, told the court that his client, a 20-year-old resident of Ran Mor Walk, Oldtown, Letterkenny, was on his way to a mechanic for assistance with repairs.
Mr. O’Brien stated that the car was fully licensed and insured, but McCullagh admitted to the expired NCT, though he had scheduled an appointment for a test.
“He was endeavouring to do his best,” Mr. O’Brien said, adding that his client was pleading guilty to the charge.
McCullagh, who was accompanied by his mother, was fined €200 for driving a dangerously defective vehicle, an offence under Section 54 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
Judge Eiteáin Cunningham also fined McCullagh €150 for not having a valid NCT. He was given five months to pay the fines.
Letterkenny man in court after using vice grips to hold dodgy brakes was last modified: June 10th, 2025 by
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