Thursday 29 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. 7279Dangerous driving · Co. Cork · 11 Feb 2023

Musician Donovan convicted of dangerous driving in west Cork

On 11 February 2023, Scottish man Donovan Leitch (77), a musician known as Donovan, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving in Skibbereen, west Cork, after a fellow motorist reported him for repeatedly driving on the wrong side of the road. He faced three driving-related charges at Skibbereen District Court. On 24 October 2023, Judge James McNulty convicted him of dangerous driving, dismissed a charge of failing to provide an intoxilyser sample, and adjourned the penalty. Judgment on the drink-driving charge was deferred to 13 February 2024, and sentence on the dangerous driving charge will be imposed at a later date.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted24 Oct
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Donovan Leitch, a 77-year-old Scottish man, was found guilty of dangerous driving.
Where
The dangerous driving offence took place at Smorane, Skibbereen, in west Cork.
When
The offence took place on 11 February 2023, around 8pm.
Cause
A fellow motorist reported him after he repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road, including as he approached a bad bend.
Investigation
  • Gardaí received a call about a car being driven erratically and went to the area where it was parked.
  • Garda Quinlan arrested Mr Leitch at 8.30pm on suspicion of drink driving.
  • The offence took place after Mr Leitch attended a pre-recording of The Tommy Tiernan Show on RTÉ.
Charges
  • He faced three driving-related charges at Skibbereen District Court, including dangerous driving.
  • A charge of failing to provide an intoxilyser sample, also described as failing to give a breath sample, was dismissed.
  • The drink-related charge was described as being drunk in charge of a vehicle in one report and as attempting to drive while under the influence of an intoxicant so as to be unable to control a car in another.
In court
  • Judge James McNulty convicted him of dangerous driving on 24 October 2023 at Skibbereen District Court.
  • The penalty for the dangerous driving conviction was adjourned, and judgment on the drink-related charge was deferred to 13 February 2024 at Skibbereen District Court.
Other details
Evidence from respiratory consultant Professor Oisin O'Connell that Mr Leitch has severe COPD and restrictive lung disease was accepted by the judge.
Sentence
Sentence on the dangerous driving charge will be imposed at a later date.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDonovan was found guilty of dangerous driving. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe conviction was for an offence in Skibbereen, west Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereOne charge concerned dangerous driving at Smorane, Skibbereen. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offence took place on 11 February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe driving took place on 11 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí received a call about a car being driven erratically and went to the area where it was parked. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGarda Quinlan arrested Mr Leitch on suspicion of drunk driving. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA fellow motorist reported the driver to gardaí after he repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe garda arrested him at 8.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeA charge of failing to provide an intoxilyser sample was dismissed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe judge reserved his decision on a charge of being drunk in charge of a vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe faced three driving-related charges at Skibbereen District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was charged with being drunk in charge of a vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge McNulty found Mr Leitch guilty of dangerous driving. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe drink-driving judgment was deferred to 13 February 2024 at Skibbereen District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge struck out the charge of failing to give a breath sample. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge convicted him of dangerous driving and adjourned the penalty. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge reserved judgment on the charge of attempting to drive while under the influence of an intoxicant. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to Skibbereen District Court on 13 February. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceSentence on the dangerous driving charge will be imposed at a later date. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Oct2023
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Singer Donovan convicted of dangerous driving in west Cork

    First report of the conviction for dangerous driving; the penalty is adjourned to a later date and the breath sample charge was struck out.

    convicted, Donovan Leitch, 77, male, namedDonovan Leitch
  2. 24 Oct2023
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Sixties folk legend Donovan convicted of dangerous driving charge in west Cork

    Reports the conviction for dangerous driving, the dismissal of the intoxilyser charge, and the deferred judgment on the drink-driving charge and sentencing date.

    convicted, Donovan Leitch, 77, male, Scottish, named, non-irishDonovan Leitch