Derry motorist who went wrong way round roundabout banned for drunken driving

A motorist who drove around a Buncrana roundabout on the wrong side of the road was more than three-and-a-half times the drink-driving limit when he was stopped by gardaí.

Daniel McCallion, of Apartment 11, 2/6 Branch Road, Derry, appeared before Buncrana District Court, where he admitted a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The 58-year-old unemployed defendant was disqualified from driving for three years for the offence.

Sergeant Jim Collins outlined the facts of the case to the court. The incident occurred on Monday, October 27, 2025, at approximately 11.26pm on Lower Main Street, Buncrana.

The court heard that gardaí on patrol observed a UK-registered red Peugeot 208 negotiating a roundabout on the incorrect side of the road. Concerned by the manner in which the vehicle was being driven, officers stopped the car.

Mr McCallion, who was identified as the driver, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink driving. He was then taken to Buncrana Garda Station, where further testing was carried out.

At the station, Mr McCallion provided a breath sample for analysis. The result showed a reading of 78 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

The court heard how the reading of 78 microgrammes placed the defendant well above the legal threshold of 22 microgrammes, and triggered a mandatory three-year driving disqualification under drink-driving legislation.

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Sergeant Collins said Mr McCallion was fully cooperative with Gardaí throughout the process and described him as contrite about the incident. The court also heard that the defendant has no previous convictions.

Defending the matter, solicitor Carrie Hegarty outlined her client’s personal circumstances. She told the court that Mr McCallion is a 58-year-old married man who had been socialising in Buncrana on the night in question.

Ms Hegarty said her client received a “panicked emergency call” from home while he was out, and the call prompted him to attempt to return to his home in Derry urgently.

The solicitor said Mr McCallion had initially attempted to arrange transport and tried to book taxis, but was unable to secure one. She conceded that he made the wrong decision when he chose to drive his own vehicle instead.

Ms Hegarty told the court that her client has held a driving licence for 39 years without incident and has maintained a completely clean record up until this offence. She said he was accepting full responsibility for his actions and was “holding his hands up”.

In terms of the defendant’s circumstances, the court heard that Mr McCallion is currently unemployed and receives benefits of approximately £400 per month.

The defence requested that the court allow a two-week postponement before the driving disqualification would come into effect.

After hearing the facts, Judge Emile Daly acknowledged the defendant’s early guilty plea and his previously unblemished record. She imposed the mandatory minimum three-year driving ban, ordering that it commence on March 27, 2026.

In addition to the disqualification, Judge Daly imposed a fine of €200 and allowed Mr McCallion four months to pay the amount.