Friday 30 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. 13130Drink driving, unauthorised use of a mechanically propelled vehicle, driving without insurance · Co. Donegal · 24 Jun 2025

Wexford man jailed for eight months and banned for 10 years after drink-driving in Letterkenny

On June 24, 2025, a silver Vauxhall was seen being driven all over the road in the Ballyraine area of Letterkenny, Donegal, after an anonymous call to Gardaí. Martin O'Brien, a 43-year-old man from Wexford, was arrested, and Gardaí found that he did not own the car, was not insured to drive it, and tested positive for alcohol. He was charged with drink-driving, unlawful use of a vehicle and driving without insurance, and pleaded guilty at Letterkenny District Court. Judge Éiteáin Cunningham sentenced him to a total of eight months in prison and a ten-year driving ban, as reported on July 22, 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced22 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A silver Vauxhall was seen being driven all over the road in the Ballyraine area of Letterkenny.
Where
The incident took place in the Ballyraine area of Letterkenny, County Donegal, on June 24, 2025.
Investigation
  • Gardaí received an anonymous call from a member of the public.
  • O'Brien was arrested and brought to Letterkenny Garda Station.
  • Gardaí found that O'Brien was not the owner of the car and was not insured to drive it.
  • O'Brien tested positive for alcohol.
Charges
  • O'Brien was charged with drink-driving at Lidl car park, Ballyraine, with 124 milligrams of alcohol in his blood, reported as six times the legal limit.
  • O'Brien was charged with unlawfully using a vehicle without the owner's consent or other lawful authority.
  • O'Brien was charged with driving without insurance.
In court
O'Brien appeared before Letterkenny District Court and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Sentence
  • Judge Éiteáin Cunningham sentenced O'Brien to a total of eight months in prison.
  • O'Brien was banned from holding a driving licence for ten years.
Other details
  • O'Brien has 95 previous convictions.
  • The defence said O'Brien had a long addiction to heroin and had turned to alcohol since.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe silver Vauxhall was seen being driven all over the road in the Ballyraine area of Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident in Letterkenny was on June 24, 2025. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí received an anonymous call from a member of the public. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationO'Brien was arrested and brought to Letterkenny Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found that O'Brien was not the owner of the car. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationO'Brien was not insured to drive the car. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationO'Brien tested positive for alcohol. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeO'Brien was charged with drink-driving at Lidl Carpark, Ballyraine, Letterkenny, with 124 milligrams of alcohol in his blood. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeO'Brien was charged with unlawfully using a vehicle without the owner's consent or other lawful authority. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeO'Brien was also charged with driving without insurance. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtO'Brien pleaded guilty to the charges. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Éiteáin Cunningham sentenced O'Brien to a total of eight months in prison. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceO'Brien was banned from holding a driving licence for ten years. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherO'Brien has 95 previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe defence said O'Brien had a long addiction to heroin and had turned to alcohol since. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jul2025
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Wexford man with 95 convictions jailed after driving incident in Letterkenny

    Court report on sentencing at Letterkenny District Court; no matching existing case. Adds the charges, the Gardaí investigation, the accused's 95 previous convictions and the defence's mitigation.

    convicted, Martin O'Brien, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin O'Brien