A 19-year-old student was fined €350 after driving the wrong way down a street in Letterkenny, with passengers “hanging out of the sunroof,” during the Donegal International Rally.
Courtney Cahoon appeared in Letterkenny District Court following the incident, which occurred on Port Road at 10 PM on June 21st.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that Cahoon was driving a Volkswagen Passat the wrong way on a one-way street, with people “hanging out of the sunroof.”
Sergeant Collins clarified that “no great speed involved” in the incident.
Cahoon, residing at Sluggan Road, Pomeroy, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, was charged with dangerous driving, stating she drove a vehicle in a manner (including speed) which having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including the condition of the vehicle, the nature, condition and use of such place and the amount of the traffic which then actually was or might reasonably be expected then to be therein) was dangerous to the public or was likely to be dangerous to the public.
The charge was contrary to section 53(1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 as substituted by section 4 of the Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011).
Mr. Patsy Gallagher, representing the defendant, explained that his client was a student unfamiliar with Letterkenny roads.
He stated that she was simply directed to drive down the road, was insured, and cooperated fully with the Gardai when stopped.
Judge Eiteain Cunningham questioned Mr. Gallagher about the passengers protruding from the sunroof, to which he responded that “there was only so much she could control.”
Judge Cunningham reduced the charge to careless driving under Section 52 and imposed a €350 fine on Cahoon.
Student who drove wrong way down Letterkenny street is fined €350 was last modified: June 25th, 2025 by
