Ireland Man disqualified for four years after drink-driving crash in Ballymacool, Letterkenny
In February 2022, around 11.25pm, a grey BMW jeep crashed into the side of a car driven by Laura Gallagher, a woman, at Ballymacool, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, then reversed and struck the car again. Gardaí followed tyre tracks in the snow to the jeep and arrested Josie Kelly, a 46-year-old man, at about midnight on 18 February 2022. He was charged with drink-driving, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and failing to report damage to another vehicle. At Letterkenny District Court in March 2025 he was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €250 for failing to report the collision, with all other charges taken into consideration.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A grey BMW jeep crashed into the side of a woman's Audi car, then reversed and struck it again.
- Where
- The incident took place at Ballymacool, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
- When
- The crash happened in February 2022, around 11.25pm.
- The charges give 19 February 2022 as the date, while the evidence refers to 18 February 2022.
- Investigation
- Gardaí followed tyre tracks in the snow to the jeep at the end of a lane at The Forest, Ballymacool.
- The driver was arrested at about midnight and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station.
- Charges
- Josie Kelly was charged with drink-driving, meaning driving while under the influence of an intoxicant.
- Josie Kelly was also charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance and failing to report damage caused to another vehicle.
- In court
- Judge Liddy allowed the charge date to be amended because the incident happened around midnight.
- The judge did not see prejudice from the blood sample not being analysed.
- Sentence
- Josie Kelly was disqualified from driving for four years and fined €250 for failing to report the accident, with three months to pay.
- Other details
- The jeep had been driven into a hedge and then reversed into a wall before it drove off up the hill into a housing estate.
- The driver had a strong smell of alcohol and slurred speech, and had previous road traffic convictions and earlier charges for assault and public order.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA grey BMW jeep crashed into the side of a woman's Audi car. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe jeep reversed and struck the car again. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in February 2022 at Ballymacool, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe crash happened around 11.25pm. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationGardaí followed the tyre tracks in the snow to a jeep at the end of a lane at The Forest, Ballymacool. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThe driver was arrested at about midnight on 18 February and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeCharged with driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeCharged with failing to report damage caused to another vehicle. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeAlso charged with dangerous driving and driving without insurance. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Liddy allowed the charge date to be amended because the incident happened around midnight. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge did not see prejudice from the blood sample not being analysed. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceHe was disqualified from driving for four years. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceHe was fined €250 for failing to report the accident, with three months to pay. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceAll other charges were taken into consideration. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe jeep drove off up the hill into the housing estate. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe jeep had been driven into a hedge and then reversed into a wall. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe driver had a strong smell of alcohol and slurred speech. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe defendant had previous road traffic convictions, and earlier charges for assault and public order. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Mar2025Snow tracks lead Letterkenny gardai to drink-driver who fled crash scene
Court report of sentencing in a February 2022 case. The charges give 19 February 2022 as the date, while the evidence refers to 18 February. The judge allowed the charge date to be amended, reflecting an incident around midnight. The article says the defendant pleaded to the charges; the sentence is reported as disqualification and a fine.
convicted, Josie Kelly, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Josie Kellyvictim, Laura Gallagher, female, irish (judged from name)Laura Gallagher