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. 20651Careless driving · Co. Donegal · 16 Jun 2023

Man fined for careless driving after Micra burnouts in Letterkenny

On Friday night, 16 June 2023, Gardaí observed Matthew Cook, a 20-year-old man, performing handbrake turns and burnouts in a Nissan Micra in Letterkenny, County Donegal. He was arrested at 12.30am on Upper Main Street, Letterkenny, on suspicion of dangerous driving, and charged when conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station. At a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Saturday afternoon, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving. The judge fined him €250 and did not disqualify him from driving.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Matthew Cook, a 20-year-old man, was observed driving a 1.1 Nissan Micra.
Where
The incident took place in Letterkenny, County Donegal.
When
The incident took place on Friday night, 16 June 2023.
Cause
Gardaí observed the man performing handbrake turns and burnouts.
Investigation
  • A Garda spotted the car near the Mount Errigal Hotel at 11.59pm.
  • The man was arrested at 12.30am on Upper Main Street, Letterkenny.
Other details
The man has an address at Raffrey Road, Crossgar, Downpatrick.
Charges
  • He was arrested for dangerous driving and charged when conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station.
  • He made no reply after being charged.
In court
  • He was brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Saturday afternoon.
  • He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving.
Sentence
The judge fined him €250 for careless driving and did not disqualify him from driving.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man was driving a 1.1 Nissan Micra. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe man was observed by Gardaí performing handbrake turns and burnouts in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe burnouts were observed on Friday night. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationA Garda spotted the car near the Mount Errigal Hotel at 11.59pm. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested at 12.30am on Upper Main Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged when conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHe was brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Saturday afternoon. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge fined him €250 for careless driving and did not disqualify him from driving. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Jun2023
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Man fined after arrest for Micra burnouts in Letterkenny

    Reports the arrest, charge, guilty plea to careless driving and €250 fine, with no driving disqualification. The car was a Nissan Micra.

    convicted, Matthew Cook, 20, male, named, irish (judged from name)Matthew Cook