Fining a man €500 for dangerous driving in Co Donegal, a judge yesterday warned spectators at car rallies about their own driving behaviour.
Because Patrick Walsh, Moanrue, Newcastle West, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick ruled there was no need to show the video tape in Letterkenny District Court.
A video tape showing the driver performing "donuts" (full circle skids) on the main Letterkenny to Derry road was seized by Sgt Niall Coady from four Newcastle West men, who had travelled to Donegal for an international rally in June 2004.
Sgt Coady told the court his attention was drawn to the incident after he heard screeching of brakes and saw the lights from a car bouncing off trees.
Sgt Coady, who was off duty, went home and put on his uniform and called for assistance from Letterkenny Garda station. Sgt Gillespie arrived and discovered Gerard O'Brien, also from Newcastle West, was recording the manoeuvres on video tape.
Ciarán O'Gorman, solicitor for Walsh, said his client and three friends had gone to Donegal for the rally weekend. "Stupidly they picked this road to show their manoeuvres with a limited slip differential."
The judge said: "This type of driving should be confined to participants in the rally on closed roads. Spectators following the rally are not allowed to carry on in this dreadful way."