A young man who performed a series of ‘donut’ manoeuvres in a Letterkenny car park has avoided a disqualification.
Yehor Danilov, 20, with an address St Patrick’s Barn, Leatbeag, Ballyheerin, Fanad, appeared before Letterkenny District Court.
Danilov was charged with dangerous driving and, though his solicitor Mr Michael Shiel, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving.
Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle outlined the facts of the case to the court.
Sergeant Doyle said that a plain clothes member of An Garda Siochana observed a silver BMW with three people on board at 7.45pm on January 3, 2026.
The vehicle, which was driven by Danilov, went down into the car park at Tesco. The Garda member saw the car fishtail before driving “at speed” up and down the car park, performing some manoeuvres, including four or five donuts,
Tesco was still opened at the time, Sergeant Doyle said. While there were customers’ vehicles present, no customers were in the car park at the time, the court was informed.
Solicitor for Danilov, Mr Michael Shiel, asked for a reduction of the dangerous driving charge to one of careless driving. Mr Shiel said that his client had voluntarily completed two course, including the ProSocial Driving Course.
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“I know it is border line,” Mr Shiel told Judge Daly. “I would ask the court to take on board that he has made a huge mistake and he has done courses voluntarily. He held his hands up. This has been a big awakening for him and he has tendered a guilty plea.”
Mr Shiel said his client is a Ukrainian national who has recently started a new job in a cleaning business and his driving license is essential.
Sergeant Doyle said the defendant was cooperative when arrested and has not come to the adverse attention of Gardai since. The sergeant added that the State has a “neutral” position in relation to a reduction of the charge.
Judge Daly said her initial view was that it would have been inappropriate to reduce the charge.
“It was a Saturday evening in a public car park, people must have been frightened seeing it and children could be around,” Judge Daly said.
However, Judge Daly said the court was influenced, but not bound by the fact that the State was not objecting to a reduction.
Judge Daly said that Danilov is a young person who has taken efforts to remedy the matter and this incident was: “Maybe an error in showing off to friends.”
Danilov was convicted and fined €800. He was given six months to pay the fine.