Couple in court over alcohol fuelled public order offences - Donegal News

Derry residents before Letterkenny District Court

A MAN and a woman were ordered to make a charitable donation after gardaí witnessed shouting on a major Letterkenny road.

The woman was found drunk, while the man was arrested for roaring.

They appeared before Letterkenny District Court on Monday past and were instructed to make payments to White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre in Muff.

Mary McDonagh (35) and John McDonagh (39), both of Clon Elagh, Skeogue Road, Derry, were arrested on Neil T Blaney Road on May 17 this year.

Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that Garda Pádraig McFadden had detained Mary McDonagh for being in an intoxicated state and a danger to herself. John McDonagh was arrested for roaring and shouting and having a disagreement with his family.

Defending solicitor Patsy Gallagher appealed for leniency on behalf of both defendants. He told the court that Mary McDonagh had no previous convictions and was responsible for several small children.

On John McDonagh, Mr Gallagher said his client had alcohol taken at the time of the offence and was apologetic once sober. The court heard that John McDonagh had minor previous convictions for having no road tax.

Judge Emile Daly dealt with both matters by way of charitable donations to the White Oaks Centre in Muff. Mary McDonagh was directed to pay €100, with charitable donations to be receipted by July 6 and a default penalty of a conviction and €250 fine if unpaid. John McDonagh was ordered to pay €150 to the same centre by July 6, with a default of a conviction and €300 fine.

The White Oaks Centre in Muff, Co Donegal, is one of Ireland’s leading residential addiction treatment facilities, offering rehabilitation programmes for alcohol and drug dependency. It has served clients from across the island of Ireland for decades and is regularly nominated by the courts as a recipient of charitable donations in cases involving alcohol-related offences.

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