Ireland Man banned for three years after drink driving in Muff, Donegal
On Sunday 5 October 2025, members of the public alerted gardaí in Inishowen to unusually slow driving, and gardaí stopped a 60-year-old man, Graham Toland Rivera, at Drumhaggart, Muff, Co Donegal, where they noticed a strong smell of alcohol. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to Buncrana Garda Station, where a breath test recorded 75 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, about three and a half times the legal limit. Rivera admitted a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol at Carndonagh District Court, and Judge Emile Daly convicted him, fined him €250 and imposed a three-year driving disqualification. The ban was postponed for five months and will begin on 1 August 2026, as reported on 24 February 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 Feb
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Unusually slow driving led members of the public to alert gardaí.
- Other details
- The driver was Graham Toland Rivera, a 60-year-old man.
- The defendant had no previous convictions.
- Where
- The vehicle was stopped at Drumhaggart, Muff, Co Donegal.
- When
- Gardaí in Inishowen received a report of a slow-moving vehicle on Sunday, 5 October 2025.
- Investigation
- Gardaí noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle.
- The man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to Buncrana Garda Station.
- A breath test at the station recorded 75 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, about three and a half times the legal limit.
- Charges
- Rivera was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and admitted the charge.
- In court
- The case was heard at Carndonagh District Court, where Judge Emile Daly convicted him of drink driving.
- Sentence
- He was fined €250 and given a three-year driving disqualification, which the sources say is mandatory for a reading of 75.
- The driving ban was postponed for five months and will begin on 1 August 2026.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA driver's unusually slow driving led members of the public to alert gardaí. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe driver was 60 years old and was about three and a half times the legal limit. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe vehicle was stopped at Drumhaggart, Muff. (donegallive.ie)
- whenGardaí in Inishowen received a report of a slow-moving vehicle on Sunday, October 5, 2025. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationGardaí noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThe driver was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to Buncrana Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA breath test at the station recorded 75 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeGraham Toland Rivera admitted a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol at Carndonagh District Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe 75 reading carried a mandatory three-year disqualification. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceJudge Emile Daly convicted him of drink driving, imposed a ban and fined him €250. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge applied a three-year driving disqualification. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe driving ban was postponed for five months and will begin on 1 August 2026. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe defendant had no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Feb2026‘Unusually slow driver’ was more than three times the limit when gardai stopped him
Reports the Carndonagh District Court conviction, three-year disqualification (postponed five months) and €250 fine for drink driving at Muff; no earlier coverage of this incident appears in the existing cases.
convicted, Graham Toland Rivera, 60, male, namedGraham Toland Rivera