Former Senator banned for three years and fined for drink driving

Former Donegal senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has been banned from driving for three years and fined €250 after pleading guilty to drink driving.

The former Fianna Fáil politician's case has been before the courts on more than 20 occasions since the incident at Tullygay, Letterkenny on September 2nd, 2013.

The case was not due to be heard until September 15th at the next sitting of Falcarragh District Court.

However, his solicitor Sean Cannon raised the matter during a family law sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Friday.

The plea was heard in Irish.

Details of the incident were outlined in court by State Solicitor Ciaran Liddy.

Mr Ó Domhnaill (42), who is originally from Killult, Falcarragh but now lives in Quebec, Canada, was charged with drunk driving, failing to remain at the occurrence of an accident, failing to remain at the scene and failing to give appropriate information.

It had been indicated at the last sitting of the court in Glenties that he would be pleading guilty.

Friday's sitting heard Mr Ó Domhnaill was pleading guilty to drink driving after the court heard he failed a breath test. The other charges against him were struck out by Judge Paul Kelly.

Mr Ó Domhnaill lost his seat in March 2020 when he was an Independent Senator and has since emigrated to Quebec.