Motorist was doing ‘donuts’ in Leighlinbridge
The young man was arrested for careless driving. Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A MAN who was observed by gardaí “performing donut manoeuvres” on a main road in Co Carlow has been ordered to undergo a probation assessment. River Levi Harmon appeared before Carlow District Court charged under section 52 of the (careless driving).
The court heard that on 22 June 2025 at 10.20pm at Ballyknockan, Leighlinbridge, gardaí observed a white Toyota performing the manoeuvres on the R448 road. The driver was spoken to and arrested for the offence of careless driving.
Mr Harmon, 1 Palatine Village, Carlow has five previous convictions, the most recent of which was before Kilkenny District Court earlier this year for holding a mobile phone while driving. He was also previously before Carlow District Court on public order offences as well as possession of drugs.
Defending solicitor Joe Farrell told Judge Geraldine Carthy that his client “can’t apologise enough”, adding that “he has had some bother before but didn’t put his licence at risk”. Mr Farrell said he had explained to his client that he was “very fortunate” that gardaí had charged him under section 52 rather than section 53, which relates to dangerous driving.
The solicitor said that Mr Harmon (25) was an apprentice electrician and that “no licence is no job”. He suggested his client would engage with the Probation Service and do some voluntary work.
Mr Harmon told the court: “I’ll do anything.” He added: “It wasn’t donuts; I just pulled the handbrake and …,” before trailing off.
Judge Carthy ordered a probation report to be prepared, with the case adjourned to January.
