Saturday 31 October 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. 20278Drug-driving · Co. Donegal · 8 Jan 2021

Letterkenny man banned from driving and fined for drug-driving

On 8 January 2021, Mark McMonagle, a 27-year-old man from Letterkenny, was stopped at a mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoint at Drumbuoy, Lifford, County Donegal, and failed a roadside drug test. Gardaí subsequently found 1,488.3 grams of cocaine, described as a €104,000 haul, in a clothes bag in the back of the van he was driving. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for the cocaine offence. In July 2023, he was convicted of drug-driving at Falcarragh District Court, where he was disqualified from driving for one year and fined €200.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Mark McMonagle was convicted of drug-driving at Falcarragh District Court.
Where
He was stopped at a mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoint at Drumbuoy, Lifford, County Donegal.
When
The incident occurred on 8 January 2021 and the drug-driving conviction was handed down in July 2023.
Cause
He failed a roadside drug test.
Investigation
Gardaí found 1,488.3 grams of cocaine in a clothes bag in the back of the van he was driving.
In court
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham presided and McMonagle was not present, being represented by his solicitor.
Sentence
  • He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison with the final two years suspended for the cocaine offence.
  • He was disqualified from driving for one year and fined €200 for the drug-driving offence.
Other details
  • The cocaine seizure was described as a €104,000 haul.
  • His solicitor said he had addiction problems and has been drug free since 2021.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMark McMonagle was convicted of drug-driving at Falcarragh District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereHe was stopped at a mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoint at Drumbuoy, Lifford. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenMcMonagle was caught with the cocaine on 8 January 2021. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeHe failed a roadside test. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found 1,488.3 grams of cocaine in a clothes bag in the back of a van he was driving. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJudge Éiteáin Cunningham presided over the sitting. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMcMonagle was not present and was represented by his solicitor. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceIn May, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison with the final two years suspended. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceHe was disqualified from driving for one year and fined €200. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe cocaine seizure was described as a €104,000 haul. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHe is likely to be in prison for most of the disqualification period. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he had addiction problems and has been drug free since 2021. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Jul2023
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Driving ban for drug-driving offence that led Gardai to €104k cocaine haul

    Court report on the drug-driving conviction and disqualification. It also gives the earlier cocaine sentence and the solicitor's account of his circumstances. No existing case covers this incident.

    convicted, Mark McMonagle, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark McMonagle