Latest news with #LetterkennyDistrictCourt
Sunday World
11 hours ago
- Sunday World
Drunk driver from Wexford who couldn't remember how he ended up in Co Donegal is jailed
Father-of-four Martin O'Brien appeared before Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with a number of offences A Co Wexford man who couldn't remember how he ended up drunk behind the wheel of a car at the other end of the country has been jailed for a total of eight months and put off the road for 10 years. Father-of-four Martin O'Brien appeared before Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with a number of offences. It comes after an incident on June 24th last when a member of the public reported a car being driven in an erratic manner in Letterkenny. Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that O'Brien has 95 previous convictions and outlined the charges against the 43-year-old. The offences include public order, theft, dangerous driving and driving without insurance for which O'Brien had served some time in prison. Sgt Collins said Gardai received an anonymous call from a member of the public on the day after they saw a silver Vauxhall car being driven "all over the road" at Ballyraine in Letterkenny. The driver, a Martin O'Brien, of The Elms, Park Avenue, Gorey, Co Wexford, was arrested and brought to Letterkenny Garda Station. When in custody, Gardai discovered that O'Brien was not the owner of the car, he was not insured to drive the car and he also tested positive for alcohol. O'Brien was charged that at Lidl Carpark,Ballyraine, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal a public place in the said District Court Area of Letterkenny district no 1, while being a specified person as defined in section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 as amended by section 9 of the Road Traffic (No. 2) Act 2011, did drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while there was present in your body a quantity of alcohol such that, within 3 hours after so driving, the concentration of alcohol in your blood did exceed a concentration of 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, to wit 124 milligrams. The charge was Contrary to section 4(2)(b) & 4(5) of the Road Traffic Act 2010. He was also charged that on the same date and location he did unlawfully use a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or without other lawful authority. The charge was Contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, (as amended by Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968, and as amended by Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 2006). O'Brien was also charged on the same date and place was the user of a mechanically propelled vehicle, such vehicle being one for which neither a vehicle insurer nor an exempted person would be liable for injury caused by the negligent use of said vehicle at that time and for which there was not then in force an approved policy of insurance as required by Part VI of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended by Part VI of the Road Traffic Act, 1968, as amended. That charge was Contrary to Section 56(1) & (3) Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended by Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 2006. Solicitor for the accused, Mr Robert Ryan, told the court that his client had a long addiction to heroin and had been on a methadone programme when he previously came out of prison. He had turned to alcohol since but Mr Ryan said his client presented as a very different man from when he was arrested. He said O'Brien had suffered a number of tragedies in his life but was trying to get his life back on the straight and narrow. He added that on the day in question, O'Brien had little or no memory of the incidents and doesn't even know how he ended up in Co Donegal. The accused had put up his hands to the charges and now wanted to put them behind him. Judge Eiteain Cunningham sentenced O'Brien to a total of eight months in prison and also banned him from holding a driving licence for ten years. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd
Sunday World
15-07-2025
- Sunday World
Woman in court after kicking detective in crotch during search of her home
Jana Milaniakova apologised after being charged, stating 'I was very frightened'. A woman who kicked a detective in the crotch while he was carrying out a search of her home in Co Donegal has appeared in court. Jana Milaniakova appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with assaulting the Garda at her home on January 2nd, 2024. Garda Pauline Doherty gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Milaniakova at Letterkenny Courthouse yesterday. When charged with the offence, the accused woman replied "I apologise for this charge. I was very frightened." Jana Milaniakova leaving Letterkenny District Court. Photo: North West Newspix Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 15th 2025 Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court how the detective had been executing a search warrant at the woman's house when the incident happened. Judge Eiteain Cunningham asked if the detective was injured following the assault. Sergeant Doyle said there was "initial discomfort" but that the detective did not suffer any long term issues. The assault charge is Contrary to Section 3 (1) and 3(2) of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 (as amended by Section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023). Sergeant Doyle added that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided the incident can be dealt with by way of summary disposal in the District Court. Ms Milaniakova was also charged with the theft of an engagement ring at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny on December 29th, 2023. That charge is Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 The case was adjourned to November 10th for hearing.
Irish Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Woman in court after kicking Garda in crotch during search of her home
A woman who kicked a detective in the crotch while he was carrying out a search of her home in Co Donegal has appeared in court. Jana Milaniakova appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with assaulting the Garda at her home on January 2, 2024. Garda Pauline Doherty gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Milaniakova at Letterkenny Courthouse yesterday. When charged with the offence, the accused woman replied: "I apologise for this charge. I was very frightened." Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court how the detective had been executing a search warrant at the woman's house when the incident happened. Judge Eiteain Cunningham asked if the detective was injured following the assault. Sergeant Doyle said there was "initial discomfort" but that the detective did not suffer any long-term issues. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The assault charge is Contrary to Section 3 (1) and 3(2) of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 (as amended by Section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023). Sergeant Doyle added that the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided the incident can be dealt with by way of summary disposal in the District Court. Ms Milaniakova was also charged with the theft of an engagement ring at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny on December 29, 2023. That charge is Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The case was adjourned to November 10 for hearing. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
04-07-2025
- Sunday World
Woman found with four Rolex watches worth over €132k to stand trial
Bridget McDonagh is charged with using fake documents to apply for an Irish passport and having possession of Rolex watches and a stash of sterling cash. A Donegal woman is to stand trial charged with using fake documents to apply for an Irish passport and having possession of Rolex watches and a stash of sterling cash. Gardai believe that the items seized from Bridget McDonagh, including four luxury watches, are the proceeds of criminal conduct. McDonagh, with an address at Coil an Airgid, Donegal Road, Ballybofey, was before Letterkenny District Court. Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that a book of evidence had been served on Ms McDonagh. Rolex Daydate 36mm in gold Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 4th He said the Director of Public Prosecutions has now agreed to send the accused woman forward for trial to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court which commences on July 8th next. Ms McDonagh's solicitor, Mr Frank Murphy, said that due to the seriousness of the case he was requesting both senior and junior counsel and this was agreed to. The 44-year-old was charged that on November 20, 2025 she was in possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit, £9,300 in sterling cash, and four Rolex watches, valued at a total of €132,950. She was also charged in relation to an incident at the Irish Passport Office, Balbriggan, Dublin, on August 23, 2023. She was charged that she did, in connection with an application for the issue of a passport, provide false information or documents which were false or misleading. Ms McDonagh is currently out on bail with a number of bail conditions attached. Mr Murphy told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that his client was looking to vary the bail conditions but that this application had been objected to by the Garda National Bureau of criminal Investigation. After some legal argument the court was told the application could be made when the case came before the circuit court. The case was adjourned to July 8th.
Sunday World
02-07-2025
- Sunday World
Coal merchant who threatened council official over smokey coal ordered to pay him €1k
Patrick Doherty pleaded guilty to the incident which occurred on March 7th, 2023. A Co Donegal coal merchant who made a threat to a Donegal County Council official has agreed to pay his victim €1,000 in compensation. Patrick Doherty pleaded guilty to the incident which occurred on March 7th, 2023. Letterkenny District Court heard how the 32-year-old was confronted by a staff member from Donegal County Council after being spotted with bags of smokey coal on his vehicle. Doherty of Crana View, Buncrana, Doherty was charged with intimidation of a witness at Letterkenny Shopping Centre Car Park, Letterkenny. The man's solicitor, Mr Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, previously told the court that his client was charged with threatening behaviour. A close-up of coal. Photo:Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 2nd Doherty was stopped by the Donegal County Council inspector and prosecuted for having bags of smokey coal on the back of the lorry. Mr Mac Lochlainn said his client engaged in 'inappropriate banter' and the witness felt threatened. Mr Mac Lochlainn outlined: 'He was asked: 'Are you threatening me?'. And my client said: 'No, but I know a man who will. Wait 'til my solicitor, Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, gets his hands on you'. A victim impact statement was handed into the court on behalf of the Donegal County Council employee. Mr Mac Lochlainn told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham that the prosecution in relation to the smoky coal was dismissed by another Judge. 'The witness obviously did not appreciate what was going on,' Mr Mac Lochlainn said. 'It was inappropriate. It was an encounter that should have been avoided.' Judge Cunningham said she would adjourn the matter for a couple of months so the issue of compensation could be canvassed. Mr Mac Lochlainn asked if €500 would be an appropriate amount and Judge Cunningham said she believed that, given the contents of the victim impact statement, at least €1,000 should be offered. The court was adjourned until today to hear from the accused and from the injured party. Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said the victim was happy to accept the compensation. Solicitor Mr Mac Lochlainn said his client would pay the €1,000 but was already on a pre-booked holiday. The case was adjourned to July 10th to allow the money to be paid into court to be passed onto the victim.
