Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 29717Careless driving · Co. Donegal · 26 Sep 2020

Careless driving charge struck out in Donegal court

Danielle Kearney, 27, a woman, lost control of her car which ended up on its roof in a field at Aughlim, Donegal Town, at 4.55am on 26 September 2020. She admitted to consuming three West Coast Coolers and some vodka after a house party and pleaded guilty to careless driving. A blood sample was obtained but was outside the three-hour time limit for a drink driving charge, and there were no independent witnesses. Judge Deirdre Gearty struck out the charge in Donegal District Court on 8 October 2021, noting the case would likely have succeeded if it had been contested.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Acquitted8 Oct
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Danielle Kearney lost control of her car which ended up on its roof in a field at Aughlim, Donegal Town.
  • Kearney admitted to consuming three West Coast Coolers and some vodka after a house party.
When
The incident occurred at 4.55am on 26 September 2020.
Investigation
  • The vehicle had been in the field for some time before being found, and it took gardaí nearly an hour to locate it after Kearney's mother forwarded a photo to them.
  • A blood sample was obtained in hospital but was outside the three-hour time limit for a drink driving charge.
  • There were no independent witnesses to the incident.
Charges
Kearney was charged with careless driving and pleaded guilty.
In court
Judge Deirdre Gearty struck out the charge in Donegal District Court on 8 October 2021 due to lack of independent evidence.
Other details
  • The judge noted the case would likely have succeeded if it had been contested.
  • Kearney was brought from Donegal Town to Sligo Hospital.
  • Kearney has a clean record and was fully cooperative with gardaí.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDanielle Kearney lost control of her car which ended up on its roof in a field at Aughlim, Donegal Town. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatGardaí received a report that a vehicle had left the road and was on its roof in a field. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe vehicle had been in the field for some time before being found. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe driver was unsure where she was and took a photo and sent it to her mother, who forwarded it to gardaí. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatIt took gardaí nearly an hour to find the vehicle. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatKearney admitted to consuming three West Coast Coolers and some vodka after work. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatShe admitted to losing control of a car after a house party. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at 4.55am on 26 September 2020. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationA blood sample was obtained in hospital but was outside the three-hour time limit for a drink driving charge. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThere were no independent witnesses to the incident. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the case would likely have succeeded if it had been contested. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherKearney was brought from Donegal Town to Sligo Hospital. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherKearney has a clean record and was fully cooperative with gardaí. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Oct2021
    Acquitteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Judge in Donegal court strikes out careless driving case due to ‘no evidence of driving’

    The careless driving charge was struck out by Judge Deirdre Gearty due to lack of independent evidence; the judge noted the case would likely have succeeded if contested.

    accused, Danielle Kearney, 27, female, named, irish (judged from name)Danielle Kearneyvictim, male