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03 Mar 2026
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03 Mar 2026
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The case was heard before Letterkenny District Court
A Leitrim man whose car suspension was lowered has been fined in a Donegal court for driving what was deemed to be a “dangerously defective vehicle”.
Letterkenny District Court heard that Niall McGloin was detected with the suspension of his blue Volkswagen Golf lowered last June.
The process was found to have affected the braking capacity of the vehicle and McGloin, a 20-year-old of Cornagillagh Mullies, Manorhamilton, Leitrim was convicted and fined €250.
The court heard that Gardai were conducting a checkpoint at 12.05pm on June 22, 2025 at Magheraboy, Manorcunningham.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that Gardai stopped the Golf and a PSV inspector carried out an examination of the vehicle. The inspector found that it was defective as there were “issues” with the car, which was seized at the time.
READ MORE: Man fined after causing damage at Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station
McGloin was charged under section 54 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
Sergeant Collins submitted photos to the court, showing that the suspension was cut in order for the car to be lowered.
“It was felt that if the car was involved in anything, it could be an issue,” Sergeant Collins said.
Mr Gordon Curley, solicitor for McGloin, said that cutting the suspension would affect the braking capacity of the car.
Judge Emile Daly asked why someone would want to lower their suspension and Sergeant Collins replied: “Really, just for show”.
The court heard that the detection of McGloin occured on Rally weekend.
Mr Curley said that his client, a construction worker, bought the car in October 2024 for €2,800 and put it through the NCT in April 2025. He said no issues were raised during the test and that McGloin said he had never carried out works on the car.
“He bought it as it was,” Mr Curley said.
Sergeant Collins added that he couldn’t imagine how the car would have passed the NCT in that condition.
Mr Curley said that McGloin was not aware that the car was defective. “As far as he was concerned, it passed the NCT and it was fine.”
JUdge Daly convicted McGloin and fined him €250, allowing four months to pay.
READ MORE: Elderly Leitrim man left without care for an entire weekend, meeting hears
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