Anti-immigration activist Niall McConnell has been fined and ordered to pay prosecution costs after pleading guilty to operating an illegal taxi service.
The court was told that McConnell, of Magherycallaghan, Castlefin had a big interest in heritage and was keen to bring visitors to east Donegal to help develop tourism in the area.
At Donegal District Court sitting in Ballyshannon on Monday, April 27, McConnell pleaded guilty to using an unlicensed small public service vehicle (psv) for the carriage of persons for reward. The offence was committed at Killybegs Harbour on June 18, 2025.
National Transport Authority (NTA) compliance officer Gerry Burke told the court that on the date in question, he was in Killybegs.
“A number of licensed public service vehicles were servicing a cruise ship and were complying with the regulations,” said. “I was cognisant that a number of vehicles were not complying.”
The officer noticed a Ford Galaxy with no discs displayed to indicate that it was a psv.
“I kept it under observation,” said Mr Burke. “A number of passengers that had disembarked from the cruise ship got into the vehicle.
“I showed the driver my ID. He admitted that he was providing a tour, was getting paid for it, and was not licensed to do so.”
Mr Burke noted that neither driver nor vehicle was licensed for public service.
Later that day, McConnell met the officer by agreement in Killybegs.
“He admitted the offence,” said Mr Burke. “I made him aware of the regulations. He undertook that he would regularise the matter.
“He was 100% co-operative, I had no issue with him.”
Solicitor for accused Jacqui Sharkey told the court that her client was a farmer from Castefin, and he had a young family.
“He has a very keen interest in history , archaeology, and such matters,” she said. “He has been working very hard to try and attract attention to east Donegal.”
Ms Sharkey outlined that the defendant had found a previously undocumented stone indicating a site of historical interest. The find had been acknowledged by esteemed Donegal archaeologist and historian Brian Lacey.
“My client was trying to bring tourists to east Donegal,” said Ms Sharkey. “He thought he would try it out. He puts his hands up.
“Shortly after speaking to Mr Burke, he realised it would have cost in the region of €6,000.”
Ms Sharkey appealed for leniency for her client.
“Mr Burke will confirm that he is a gentleman,” she said. “He was trying to earn some money for his young family and was just trying to put east Donegal on the map. I ask you to bear that in mind.”
The court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said: “He must get credit for the fact that he has no previous convictions and was cooperative. He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”
The judge imposed a fine of €200 with an order to pay prosecution costs of €500. She allowed him six months to make the payment, saying it was the maximum timeframe available to the court.
McConnell is the leader of Síol na hÉireann – which says it is a ‘pro-Life Nationalist party.’ He stood as an independent candidate in the last two General Elections.
In 2020, he took 580 first preference votes and was eliminated on the third count while he earned 1,565 first preferences in 2024 and was eliminated on the 10th count.
McConnell also took 880 first preferences when he stood in the Lifford-Stranorlar local electoral area in the 2024 Local Election, when he was eliminated on the fifth count.
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