A man who had his van seized by Gardaí told officers that he would do what was done to tragic Garda Robbie McCallion who was killed in the line of duty.

Alex Peoples, 46, with an address of Drumkeen, Lifford appeared in court in relation to an incident which occurred on May 25th 2015 at Ballybofey Garda station.

An irate Mr Peoples stormed into the station demanding his van be returned to him.

Gardaí had seized the van and were carrying out a PSV inspection on the vehicle, due to an alleged ramming incident involving Gardaí.

Inspector Michael Harrison told the court, “The defendant came into Ballybofey Garda Station and demanded his van be returned to him.

“Gardaí informed him that the PSV inspection hadn’t been completed, and that they couldn’t return the van to him.

“At this point, Mr Peoples became extremely aggressive and confrontational.

“Gardaí stressed to the defendant that the PSV inspection was on-going, and that the van couldn’t be returned until it was completed.

“Mr Peoples said if I don’t get my van back, I’ll kill someone or something.

“He continued to be aggressive, Gardaí repeatedly told him he was not getting his van back, and asked him to calm down.

“Mr Peoples said you had no right to take my van, I want it back, if I don’t get my van back, I’ll do something that was done to McCallion.”

Solicitor for the defendant Ciaran MacLochlainn said his client had asked for items out of his van.

Inspector Michael Harrison replied, “He didn’t ask for any items out of the van, he asked for the van back.”

Mr Peoples was charged with threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, and he has already pleaded guilty to the breach of peace.

Solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn had requested two witnesses to take the stand in relation to the alleged ramming incident involving the van, but neither turned up, despite being told they had to attend.

Judge Paul Kelly issued a bench warrant for the arrest of both witnesses, and adjourned the case until June 16th.

COURTS: A cyclist who was verbally abusive towards a member of the Gardaí, claimed that he had attempted to kill him.

Alex Doherty, 58, with an address at The Haw Road, Lifford was given a fixed on the spot penalty notice after an alleged incident of road rage on 30th March, 2015.

Garda Kevin Lynch, observed Mr Doherty cycling erratically in Lisnaree, Convoy.

In his evidence to the court, Garda Lynch said, “On March 30th, 2015, I observed a cyclist, whom I now know to be Alex Doherty give a two fingered salute to a driver of a transit van at Lisnaree, Convoy.

“As I approached the cyclist he also gave me a two fingered salute a number of times.

“I then asked the cyclist to pull over but he started to verbally abuse me and repeatedly told me to f**k off.

“I continued to ask him to pull over, but he refused, and again kept telling me to f**k off.

“He then started shouting that I had attempted to kill him.”

Garda Lynch drove a short distance ahead of the cyclist and pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road, he then got out of the vehicle, and signalled the defendant to stop, but he attempted to cycle around.

“I then got of out of my patrol car, and signalled for him to stop, when he approached me he attempted to cycle around me.

“He then stopped and stood in front of me, and again he continued to verbally abuse me, again he told me to f**k off, and he said I’d tried to kill him.

“At this stage, we were causing a bit of an obstruction, and cars had to pull out around us, I asked the defendant to stand over at the side of the road, but he refused.

“He was causing a scene, and refused to go to the side of the road, he then said to me that he’d take me down to the ground, and that he had more power than I knew he had.”

Garda Lynch said that if he hadn’t been on his own, he would’ve attempted a different approach, but at this stage was just trying to calm the defendant down.

“He was highly agitated, and I was really taken back by his manner, the spit was flying from his mouth – as he continued to scream at me.

“He then picked up his bike, and swung it at me, and he named a number of politicians that would deal with me in relation to the incident.

“I asked for his name and details, and he eventually gave them to me, and I then allowed him to leave the scene to avoid any more confrontation.

“I fixed a penalty notice at the scene for threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour, however, this hasn’t been paid.”

Judge Paul Kelly issued a bench warrant for sentence.

COURTS: A man who fell asleep at a cocktail bar in a busy Donegal nightclub, and then attacked a bouncer – has had his case adjourned at a sitting of Letterkenny District Court.

Patrick McDermott, 31, with an address at Glengad Mountain, Malin appeared at court in relation to an incident which occurred on August 23rd, 2015.

The court heard how Mr McDermott had travelled with a group of friends on the night in question.

However, the defendant became intoxicated and then fell asleep at the Cocktail Bar, inside popular nightclub Voodoo Venue.

As he was being escorted outside by security staff, he then became very aggressive and verbally abusive.

It was at this point he lashed out and subsequently head-butted a member of the Voodoo Venue security staff.

Solicitor for the defendant Ciaran MacLochlainn told the court that his client had been drinking heavily on the night in question, and deeply regretted his actions that evening.

MacLochlainn told the court, “My client is 31 years of age, and he lives with his parents, he’s a small famer and he came to Letterkenny with a group of friends earlier that evening.

“Unfortunately, he had too much alcohol, and he fell asleep at the bar, as he was being escorted out h became anger at the manner in which he was being ejected.

“His arm was screwed up behind his back, and it was very sore, he felt his arm was going to popped from his socket.

“He then lashed out angrily and assaulted one of the door staff, but the situation could’ve been handled better.

Judge Paul Kelly said the defendant had a number of drink related convictions, and said he had a problem with alcohol.

Judge Kelly said, “This isn’t a once-off incident, he’s had a number of previous for drink related offences.

“He has a problem, and need to address his issues with alcohol immediately.

“A member of a security team bore the brunt of his aggression and violence which was fuelled by alcohol.”

Judge Kelly ordered a probation report on the defendant and the adjourned the case until September 15th.

COURTS: A man who knocked down a pedestrian left the scene because his young child took a tantrum.

Stephen Hegarty, 32, with an address at Ard Caoin, Manorcunnigham appeared in court in relation to an incident which occurred on the 19th July, 2015.

The court heard that Mr Hegarty was sitting in his car opposite Black’s Centra, Lower Main Street when he was approached by a pedestrian who asked him for a lift.

Garda Inspector Michael Harrison said, “Mr Hegarty was sitting in his car, and had his young child in the back, when a pedestrian approached him and asked him to give him a lift out to Churchill.

“He knocked out on the window and asked for the lift, but Mr Hegarty declined.

“A member of Mr Hegarty’s family then jumped in the car, and then had a conversation for a few minutes.

“The defendant then let his clutch out slightly, and went to reverse, but didn’t see the pedestrian was standing at the back of his car.

“He knocked him over, but the contact was very slight, the pedestrian had a cut on his elbow.

“Mr Hegarty wanted to take the pedestrian to the hospital to get checked out, but he declined, but they insisted to had to take him to the hospital.

“However, his young child took a tantrum and he left the scene, but Mr Hegarty had arranged with a member of his family to take the pedestrian who was knocked down to hospital.”

“He got x-rays taken, but there was no serious injuries sustained.”

The court heard that Mr Hegarty was a hard working family man, who worked full-time with a local maintenance company, and that he had no previous convictions.

He was charged with failing to remain at the scene, failing to report the incident and careless driving.

Judge Paul Kelly struck out the first two charges, but fined the defendant €150 for careless driving.

COURTS: A Donegal secondary school student who was caught in possession of cannabis has had his case adjourned at a sitting of Letterkenny District Court.

The student, now 19, appeared in court in relation to the incident which occurred at St Columba’s College, Stranorlar on November 28th, 2014.

The court heard how the student was found in possession of cannabis and was caught smoking the substance with friends in the school toilet.

Garda Inspector Michael Harrison told the court that the street value of the drugs seized were €25.

Inspector Harrison told the court, “He didn’t have the drugs for monetary gain, he had got the drugs from an older person, and he handed it over to his friends.

“He was 18 at the time, but the other members involved weren’t at that time, he disclosed where he got the cannabis from, and the supply line is now known.

Solicitor for the defendant Patsy Gallagher said his client was deeply remorseful for what he had done, and realised it was a very stupid thing to do.

Gallagher told the court, “He’s a very bright young man, but this was a very stupid thing he done and he realises he made a stupid mistake.

“He’s aware of the seriousness of the charge against him, and the stigma attached to such a charge, it’s been a very embarrassing episode for his family, and his mother is extremely upset over the incident.

“He’s now in his second year at UCG, and is studying for an Arts degree, he’d like to go on to do a diploma in teaching, but realises if he’s charged then that could jeopardise his future.

“I don’t think you’ll ever see this young man in court again, he’s smart, clever and has a bright future, but he made one terrible and stupid mistake.”

Judge Paul Kelly said this was a very serious charge, and that it can’t be taken lightly.

However, he decided to order a probation report, and said if he plays ball with the probation services he will re-evaluate the situation.

He adjourned the case until the 18th of July.

A MAN who downed a bottle of vodka at a party in two minutes is a “changed man” who now coaches soccer teams and goes to the gym every day, a court has heard.

Mateusz Fuit, from Manor View, Long Lane, Letterkenny, admitted being drunk in a public place and possession of herbal cannabis at Lifestyle Sports in the town on September 6, 2014.

His solicitor Patsy Gallagher told Judge Paul Kelly that Fuit had been at a house party before his arrest.

“He was involved in a stupid drinking game and consumed a 700ml bottle of vodka in two minutes,” said the lawyer.

However since the incident the 22-year-old had stopped drinking and had returned to education.

Mr Fuit told the judge he “wasn’t like that” anymore.

“I manage the Dunfanaghy U16s and I go to the gym six days each week,” said the defendant.

Judge Kelly told him: “This is not a great example for 16 yr olds.”

The Polish national replied: “It will never happen again – I promise.”

Fuit was ordered to pay €150 to St Vincent de Paul by September 26.

A 25-YEAR-OLD Donegal man used a mobile phone to video two men as they followed his instructions to smash up his uncle’s car when it was parked in the grounds of a hospital.

Derek McDonagh, of Marina Court Apartments, Bundoran, County Donegal, pleaded guilty to damaging a vehicle belonging to Charles McDonagh on October 6, 2015 at court in Fermanagh.

The court heard that, at around 7.35pm, police were contacted by staff at the South West Acute Hospital, outside Enniskillen, and informed that three males had been disturbed while attempting to break in to a Vauxhall Zafira at the medical facility’s underground car park.

CCTV footage of the incident was obtained. It showed three males arriving in the car park at 7.28pm.

Two of the males, both wearing hoodies and balaclavas, proceeded to smash up the car, while the third videoed the damage caused on a smartphone device.

The third male, who was wearing a blue boiler suit and a balaclava, appeared to be directing the damage.

Just under a minute later, the three men left the car park.

Over a month later, a vehicle matching the description of the one used by the perpetrators was stopped by police on Sligo Road in Enniskillen.

The defendant, who was driving, was spoken to and appeared “nervous”.

During a search of the vehicle, officers uncovered a Samsung mobile phone that matched the description of the device seen on the CCTV footage.

The defendant confirmed that it was his phone and unlocked it, reports the Impartial Reporter.

McDonagh was subsequently arrested for criminal damage and his phone was examined. Video pictures of the incident were found on the phone’s memory, the court heard.

The defendant was further interviewed in connection with the incident in February this year, but remained silent.

A total of Stg£9,959 worth of damage was caused to the vehicle, the court heard.

After hearing the outline of the facts in the case, district judge Nigel Broderick observed that it was a very serious matter and the defendant’s liberty was at risk.

The judge noted that the car involved belonged to McDonagh’s uncle and asked: “Was this some family feud?”

Defending solicitor, Oliver Roche, replied: “Obviously.”

The solicitor said his client suffered from mental health problems that meant he was unsuitable for any community-based disposal, such as probation or community service.

In mitigation, Mr Roche said that the defendant had a clear record in the North and asked the judge to consider the possibility of imposing a suspended sentence.

The judge observed that the two other males, who had never been apprehended, had been causing the damage at McDonagh’s behest, adding that he was the “main controller”.

Mr Broderick said that, when he first heard the facts, custody was at the forefront of his mind.

However, taking into account the defendant’s significant history of poor mental health and his unsuitability for community-based disposals, the judge said that an immediate custodial sentence would not be appropriate.

Instead, the district judge, Mr Broderick imposed a six-month jail term, suspended for two years, and concluded by ordering McDonagh to pay £300 compensation.

A MOTORIST stopped at a garda checkpoint in Inishowen over the weekend failed the breath test, had no insurance and no tax.

Gardaí seized the silver Volksvagen saloon car during the operation at Burnfoot.

The motorist was one of a number of drivers detained over the weekend as gardaí continue their road safety campaign in the county.

The driver was taken to Buncrana Garda Station and could now face jail if convicted at the local district court.

On Friday and Saturday two Inishowen motorists were among the top ten drivers caught speeding during the 24-hour Operation Slow Down.

Letterkenny Town Park. Pic by Northwest Newspix.

GARDAÍ  seized a bag of cannabis worth €120 during an operation at Letterkenny Town Park, the local court has heard.

Stephen Fox, 22, from Glendale Drive in Letterkenny admitted possession of the drug when he appeared before Judge Paul Kelly.

The court heard Gda Elaine Gordon was responding to reports of a disturbance and Fox ran off. She saw him throw something away and discovered the cannabis in a hedge during a follow-up search on October 29 last year.

Judge Kelly asked Fox: “How can you afford €120 for cannabis?”

Fox told the judge he received €188 per week disability benefit but that he hadn’t bought the drugs himself saying he and his friends had “grouped the money together to buy the cannabis.”

The judge ordered Fox to pay €150 to St Vincent de Paul as it was his first offence.

A teacher on part-time hours has told a judge he couldn’t afford rising car insurance prices – and had driven without cover.

Christopher Carr, who is 29 and from Meadow Hill in Letterkenny appeared before the district court.

Asked by Judge Paul Kelly why he hadn’t insured his vehicle, Mr Carr said he couldn’t afford it.

“The car is over 10 years old and there was no way I could afford to pay for the insurance in full,” said the teacher.

“I’m a teacher on part-time hours. I did have a policy which was costing €200 per month but I couldn’t afford to keep up the payments.”

Judge Kelly said his situation was unfortunate but that every motorist has to have insurance.

He fined Carr €200 and gave him four months to pay for the incident at Gortlee in Letterkenny on December 8 last.

Brian McLaughlin is to get a new sentence hearing. Pic by Northwest Newspix.

A CO Donegal man who held his partner hostage at knifepoint while has walked free from court despite a ruling that his original sentence was unduly lenient.

Brian McLaughlin (23), from St Oran’s Road, Buncrana, Co Donegal, had pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner and falsely imprisoning her at their home in Buncrana on October 20th, 2013.

He was sentenced by Judge Francis Comerford at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court to three years’ imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended, on July 14th last year.

However the DPP sought a review and the Court of Appeal agreed the sentence was too lenient.

Giving judgment, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan said the sentencing judge held that the root of McLaughlin’s offending could be found in his mental health problems but it remained “a fact that his voluntary consumption of alcohol contributed to his criminal offending” and did not excuse his responsibility for these offences.

However he said the court could not avoid the fact McLaughlin has been out of prison for more than six months, had moved to a new part of Donegal and appeared to be making progress.

A new probation report was available which noted that McLaughlin had attended appointments with the probation service, had engaged with doctors and had made efforts to address the factors he needed to address.

Mr Justice Sheehan, who sat with Mr Justice Paul Butler and Mr Justice John Edwards, said the court had considered returning McLaughlin to prison for a further period of time but was unsure whether this would serve the interests of society.

The Court of Appeal resentenced him to three years’ imprisonment and suspended the balance on condition McLaughlin enter a good behaviour bond “with strict terms” for the suspended period and have no further contact with the injured party.

When asked whether he undertook to be so bound, McLaughlin said “Yes, I do”.

The original case heard how after returning to their home on St Oran’s Road in Buncrana, McLaughlin, 22, exploded into a rage before holding his partner hostage and subjecting her to a vicious assault.

McLaughlin appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court after pleading guilty to the 2013 offences at a previous sitting.

The court heard how McLaughlin set upon his girlfriend after she preferred to stay out with friends instead of returning home with him.

They argued and then McLaughlin suddenly punched her in the face before climbing on top of her on a bed and trying to strangle her.

The victim said she thought she was going to die but managed to claw at her attacker.

However, he twisted her arm into her back and she said she remembers waking up in the sitting room and he was telling her to wake up.

She called the emergency services but when Gardai arrived, McLaughlin locked the doors and a hostage-like situation began at around 1.55am.

He got a kitchen knife and began sharpening it and refused to allow Gardai into the house.

The girl eventually managed to hide the knife but McLaughlin went berserk when he could not find it and fetched a number of other knives for the kitchen.

Trained hostage negotiators were called who contacted Brian McLaughlin’s father who finally convinced him to take some medication.

He eventually released the girl and at 4.40am, he finally gave himself up to Gardai.

At one stage McLaughlin had held aloft a television over his head and threatened to throw it at Ms McLaughlin.

When questioned about this by Gardai, he denied it saying he would have nothing to play his Grand Theft Auto computer game on if he did.

Martina McLaughlin said her husband lived for their children

A CO DONEGAL man died when he blew up his own home on Halloween night, an inquest into his death was told today.

Well-known optician Jeff McLaughlin had doused his holiday home in Inishowen with petrol and home heating oil before it exploded, destroying the house and killing him instantly.

A jury returned a verdict of ‘accidental death by misadventure’ into the death of the 42-year-old just before midnight on October 31, 2014.

The blast from the explosion was so loud local people thought the property had been hit by a plane.

Mr McLaughlin, originally from Carndonagh, was a successful businessman who owned two optician practices in Buncrana and in Carndonagh.

He died instantly in the explosion at the house at Carnmalin, Malin Head.

Today a forensic expert Dr Barbara Buchanan revealed she found petrol vapour on clothes worn by Mr McLaughlin.

She had also found petrol vapour and home heating oil vapour on other items recovered from the blast scene.

Mr McLaughlin’s relatives intently as the evidence was given.

Today Superintendent Kevin English told Coroner Dr John Madden that gardaí had concluded that Mr McLaughlin had caused the fire and explosion which destroyed the home.

He said he concluded quickly that the arrestable offence of arson had taken place and designated the house and surrounding area where debris was strewn a crime scene.

“From my experience I had concerns about what had occurred and what part the deceased had to play in his own demise,” said the senior garda.

Earlier the inquest heard Mr McLaughlin had left his home in Derry after spending the evening ‘trick or treating’ with his three young children.

He had an argument with his wife Martina.

She said she loved her husband and didn’t know why he had gone to Malin Head.

Mrs McLaughlin said the PSNI had called to her home on the night of the blast to tell her of a fire at the holiday home in Carnmalin.

However she only found out that a body had been found in the debris when she was told by a member of staff at the Carndonagh optician’s premises.

She said her husband lived for their children and she loved him dearly.

Dr Madden agreed with the jury verdict and passed on his sympathy to the McLaughlin family.

He said he had first met Mr McLaughlin’s parents in 1973 when he was their doctor.

“No parents should have to bury a child,” said the coroner.

He also particular praise for the fire service who had dealt with the explosion on the night, saying they often risked their lives at such scenes and received very little recognition for the job they do.

This was echoed by Supt Eugene McGovern who passed on his sympathy to Martina McLaughlin, her children and to the parents and siblings of Mr McLaughlin.

Gardai at the scene of the housefire at Carnmalin PIc by Northwest News Pics.

The late Jeffrey McLaughlin

Julian Cuddihy. Pic by Northwest News Pix.

A MAN accused of murdering his own parents at their Inishowen home has admitted the killings but was mentally ill at the time, his trial has heard.

Julian Cuddihy (43), of Churchtown, Carndonagh, is charged with the murder of his parents Jimmy (77) and Kathleen (73) at their home in Carn on October 22, 2014.

Mr Cuddihy has pleaded not guilty be reason of insanity.

Counsel for the prosecution told the jury that forensic psychiatrists for both the prosecution and the defence are in agreement and will give evidence that Mr Cuddihy was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time.

The psychiatrists will also say that Mr Cuddihy believed he was carrying out his parents’ wishes at the time and was helping them to secure a place in heaven.

Mr Cuddihy believed he was hearing his mother’s voice telling him to complete the acts.

The court also heard he had incorporated his mother into his persecutory delusions and had an angry resentment towards her because of these delusions.

One psychiatrist will tell the court that Mr Cuddidy did not know that what he was doing was morally wrong and because of his illness he believed he was entirely justified and thought he was facilitating his parents entering heaven.

The jury will hear post-mortem evidence that the cause of death for James and Kathleen Cuddihy was severe head injuries, including chop wounds.

James Cuddihy also had a stab wound to the neck.

In his opening address to the jury, Denis Vaughan Buckley SC said the bodies of Kathleen and James Cuddihy were found by their other son and daughter at their home on 23 October 2014.

Their daughter had climbed through a window to access the house and another son then had to break into the house.

Both had severe injuries and an axe and a scissors were found at the scene.

Julian Cuddihy was arrested a short time later after it became known he had taken his father’s car to a lake area near Clonmanny.

He asked gardaí after his arrest if they were telling him his parents were dead.

He has been receiving treatment at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum since his arrest.

Evidence in the case will be heard tomorrow.

Dean Lafferty.

INQUEST: Family members of the late Dean Lafferty walked out of a heated inquest this afternoon, after the coroner returned an Open Verdict into his untimely death on the February 17th, 2014.

Dean Lafferty, who was 18, died at his home at Admiran Park, Stranorlar. His death was caused by a blow he had received to his head.

At today’s emotionally charged inquest, the coroner’s court heard how Dean had been socialising with friends the night before his death, and heard how he had been the victim of a alleged head-butting incident at the popular Barcelona Bar in the town of Ballybofey.

The deposition of Seamus Brown was read out at the inquest and he revealed that Mr Lafferty had been drinking the night before he tragically died.

“Dean had only just moved into a new apartment, I think he was only in it for five days,” he said.

“None of us had been out on the Saturday night, but we decided to have a few drinks and Dean and Mark Patton went to McGuigan’s Bar to get a carry out.

“They returned about half an hour later and they had a bottle of Sambuca and had a bottle of Apple Jacks, they began drinking both, and were mixing both drinks.

“They then headed off to Barcelona Bar in Ballybofey, Dean was half full at that stage, and was joking about the women he was going to bring back to the house that night.

“Later I got a call saying Dean had been involved in a fight from a girl that had witnessed it, she said Dean had got into a row with a bouncer, she was asking was he OK?

“He hadn’t returned to the flat, so I got a friend to take me into the town to see if we could find him, but we couldn’t see him or find him anywhere.”

The court then heard a deposition from Chloe McGee who said that she saw Mr Lafferty in the Barcelona Bar, and that he appeared to be quite drunk.

Her statement read: “I saw Dean and he looked quite drunk, he waved over at me, but I didn’t know the people he was with, there was then a commotion at the door, and I didn’t see what happened, but Dean was put out.

“We went outside to get a bus to The Grill, and Dean seemed very drunk..and he was leaning against the wall, he could barely stand.

“The bus then arrived and he sat on the seat beside the driver, he then asked me to sit beside him, and I kept having to hold onto him, as he swaying all over the seat.

“When we arrived in Letterkenny, he fell as he get off the bus and then started getting sick.”

The coroner’s court then heard from Damien Foy, who was the partner of Dean Lafferty’s mum, he said he received a phone call at 1.15am from Dean asking him to collect him from The Grill.

Mr Foy said he jumped in the car and headed to Letterkenny along with Dean’s brother Travis and sister Samantha.

“I got a call around 1.15am, I was up anyway because the baby needed a feed, but I answered the phone and at first it was a girl, and then Dean came on the phone to me and asked me would I come get in,” said Mr Foy.

“He said he was standing beside the chip van outside The Grill, so I jumped in the car and I took Travis and Samantha with me and we headed for Letterkenny.

“I drove into the car park at The Grill and I saw Dean standing beside the chipper, there was a few about, and I noticed one fella down the alleyway and he was crouched over.

“He seemed like he was out of breath, I then had the owner of The Grill tell me to get the f**king car out of here, and that it’s not supposed to be parked here.

“I asked him why the f**k he cared more about the car, than he did about people who were in his place lying about the street drunk and others fighting.

“I told Dean to get in the car, as I pulled out I spotted the owner again, and I got out and again asked him why he cared more about the car than his own patrons, at the moment I heard a bang, and as I turned around I could see Dean with his arms outstretched, he had just hit somebody I think, but I didn’t see it.

“Again I told him get into the car and then we left, he then got sick on the way home, he had been drinking shots, he apologised to me for getting sick.

“When we got home he offered to help me clean up the vomit, but I said it was OK and I told him to go inside.

“I went upstairs to Tina, and asked Travis to check on him, he was lying on one of the beds and he had wet himself, he was getting up and he went to go down stairs I could hear this bang, I looked around and he was at the bottom of the staircase.

“He seemed to be getting worse and worse, he then sat on the armchair and fell asleep, I was heading to Castlederg the next morning, and he woke up from the armchair, he went to the toilet and got sick, I told him to get something to eat and I gave him a cup of water.

“I was away all day, and when I was on my way back that evening Tina rang me saying Dean wasn’t breathing, I was home within a few minutes of that call.

“I went upstairs, I could see he was dead, I attempted chest compressions and CPR on Dean for about fifteen minutes, but he was gone.”

Sergeant Maurice McCole said that Dean Lafferty had not died from falling down the stairs.

Sgt McCole said that during his examination of the crime scene could see no evidence whatsoever that anybody had fallen down the stairs, he said if he had fallen down the stairs and fractured his skull there would have been some evidence, but there wasn’t any.

State Pathologist Marie Cassidy carried out a post mortem examination and she determined that Dean Lafferty had suffered a fracture to the left side of his skull.

She said it was likely the head injury sustained was the result of a punch, kick, a fall or perhaps even a head butt.

She also said that if he had fallen down the stairs and fractured his skull he would have had other injuries, but he didn’t.

In summarising his verdict, Coroner Denis McCauley said any number of incidents given in evidence could’ve caused the head injury, but also admitted he could’ve been the victim of an assault in Letterkenny.

Dr McCauley said: “We know that Dean died from a blow to his head, which blow it was can’t be established, no amount of forensic digging will make that any clearer.

“There are a number of incidents recorded in statements that could point to his death, but we can’t establish which one. There’s a mystery that we can’t resolve.

“The cause of death was due to head trauma, but because we can’t determine when he received the blow and what blow caused it, I’ve got to record an Open Verdict into his death.”

The decision sparked some anger in the room, with a number of family members making remarks before leaving the room visibly upset.

Dr McCauley was asked by a relative to explain the head injury and the Coroner responded by saying that a small brain trauma could occur many days before someone could die from it.

The Coroner said the injury which eventually killed Dean led to behaviour which would mimic that of someone being drunk and that it was almost impossible to detect such an injury without carrying out a brain scan. He said it would not be visible to someone else.

Another relative asked why two witnesses summonsed to the hearing had not turned up.

Dr McCauley said one of the witnesses had since suffered a brain injury himself and could not be called to give evidence.

However he said the other witness had failed to answer the summons and he was now passing that to the Superintendent.

Dr McCauley concluded the case by saying, “This was a tragic incident, it’s tragic that such a young life has been taken from us, and it’s difficult for everybody involved.

“I want to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Dean Lafferty, this really was a tragic event, and it’s just a tragedy, but we can’t determine the exact circumstances of his death and that’s why I’ll record an Open Verdict.”

Sup David Kelly offered his sympathies to the relatives of Mr Lafferty, saying they had suffered deep distress in their lives.

Joyce

AN inquest will be finally held next month into the death of a young Co Donegal woman who died in Africa 11 years ago.

Aid worker Joyce Campbell died when she was involved in a tragic car crash in Ethiopia in 2005.

An inquest into Ms Campbell’s death was adjourned yesterday at Letterkenny Coroner’s Court but only after Coroner Denis McCauley told the hearing that he had now set a date for the hearing on July 20.

Previous hearings in the case had found that Ethiopian police were not co-operating with Interpol, who had been instructed to investigate the death.

Joyce’s mother Irene Campbell, from Meenmore, Dungloe, has campaigned tirelessly to find out how her daughter died.

Joyce had just celebrated her 25th birthday when she died while working for the Vincentian Lay Missioners.

She was only in Ethiopia for three weeks as part of a four month stay when the tragedy happened.

Two other Irishmen in the car were also injured in the crash in Welyta, about nine hours north of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on August 8th.

She was a graduate of Development, Health and Disaster Management and she also had a Masters in Humanitarian Assistance.

The dead woman’s father Paddy died four years ago, still not knowing what had happened to his youngest child.

Mrs Campbell revealed she did not even have a death certificate for her daughter but just a piece of paper from the Ethiopian authorities.

She had said she does not believe there was anything suspicious about the manner of her daughter’s death.

“I accept it was an accident. I’m told a herd of goats came out onto the road and Joyce died as a result of her injuries when the land cruiser in which she was traveling crashed,” she said.

However, the family have been left with several unanswered questions about their daughter’s death.

Now two other Irish aid workers in the vehicle – one of whom lives abroad – have told Dr McCauley they will give evidence on July 20 in Letterkenny.

Irene has said that her daughter was a “good person” who wanted to help others.

“She knew she was privileged – she had a good education and she came from a good background. She was very grounded and she was just a good person. She just wanted to help others,” she said.

Julian Cuddihy. Pic by Northwest News Pix.

A DONEGAL man who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia who killed his parents with an axe has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

Julian Cuddihy, who is 43, was charged with murdering 73-year-old Kathleen Cuddihy and 77-year-old James Cuddihy at their family home in Churchtown, Carndonagh on October 22, 2014.

After 40 minutes of deliberations the jury of seven men and five women came back with unanimous verdicts on both counts of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Justice Margaret Heneghan committed Mr Cuddihy to the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum in Dublin for assessment.

He will return to court on 20 June when a doctor will suggest a strategy for Mr Cuddihy’s long-term treatment and care.

The trial heard that he took to sleeping with an axe for protection.

Julian Cuddihy admits killing his parents but had pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity.

On Wednesday, Dublin’s Central Criminal Court heard evidence from the family’s consultant psychiatrist.

Dr Damian Mohan also revealed that Kathleen and Jimmy Cuddihy had cancelled a mental health appointment for their son six days before their death.

He told the court that they were concerned about the stigma associated with mental health.

Mrs Cuddihy, in particular, did not want him to be committed and worried that he would resent them if they had him hospitalised against his will.

At that time Mr Cuddihy was refusing to eat because he believed his mother was trying to poison him.

The court heard that he could not sleep because he worried that people were stealing his thoughts while he slept and he believed he could prevent aliens from reading his mind if he joined the IRA.

A Donegal man has been charged with the theft of 100 animals, understood to be worth a total value of €107,300 from a farm in Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath last year.

Barry Carr, with an address at Boeshill, Pettigo appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes at a sitting of Athlone District Court.

Carr was charged with stealing nine cows, nine calves and 53 cattle with a total value of €100,000 from property of Niall Dillon between June 24 and 25, 2015.

He was also charged with stealing four cattle and 25 mountain ewes with a value of €7,300, which were being held at Department of Agriculture property.

Carr was remanded on bail to appear before the court again on September 21 when a book of evidence will be served.

It is believed that this is the biggest cattle theft in the country’s history.

THE Donegal Coroner and family GP Dr Denis McCauley says the people of Donegal need to start talking about suicide and work together to prevent more tragedies.

It has been another tragic week in this county.

More lives have been lost to suicide – and people speak about it in hushed tones. It follows a number of absolutely heart-wrenching deaths in recent weeks.

The people who advise news organisations like this one say we should be careful about what we say and how we say it. Often we don’t report cases at all – because families rightly want time to grieve.

But Dr McCauley told an inquest into a teenage suicide this week that more needs to be done to save lives here in Donegal.

And we need to start talking more about it, he said.

Dr McCauley told the family and friends of the teenager: “I know there is a reluctance to talk about this subject. Information at an inquest like this may be used to prevent deaths like this in the future.

“Here in County Donegal the level of suicides is very high, especially among young people and this has been highlighted in two recent studies which were published.

“It is important for us to be honest in cases like this one. Suicide is a terribly significant problem in County Donegal. This is another terrible tragedy, one which is extremely sad for all those involved.”

Officially 16 people died by suicide in Donegal last year, but those who counsel families and deal with the cases believe the actual figure is twice that – and the real figure rarely emerges for up to two years later when inquests have been held.

Supt David Kelly made an emotional statement to relatives and witnesses at the inquest, telling them that they never expected that one day they would be dealing with the emergency services and a garda asking them questions about a loved one.

“I hope that some day you can move on with your lives. I know it is very hard for you to sit here today to listen to this evidence. It is a terrible place to be and a terribly sad place to be,” said Supt Kelly.

“You never expected the State through the Garda to be involved in your lives and then this happens. I do hope that this can bring some sort of closure, and I know it will never bring complete closure to you.”

A number of people left the inquest sobbing.

Another life lost.

If you need help or need to talk to someone, help is available from people who are there to listen. Check out these websites. You’re Irreplaceable.

www.pieta.ie

www.suicideprevention.ie

www.yspi.eu

www.samaritans.org or call 116123 for free.

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A Dublin man is to go on trial charged with allegedly assaulting the son of former Donegal nightclub owner Frank Shortt.

Kenneth Broe, from Tallaght in Dublin, appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court today.

Broe, 44, is facing four charges, two of alleged assault, another of possession of drugs and a further charge of possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply.

Broe, of Alderwood Green, Tallaght, Dublin 24, is charged with assaulting Kristian Shortt on October 9th, 2008 at Flat 2 of 53 Upper Main Street, Letterkenny.

He is also charged with the possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, at Monaghan Garda station on October 10th, 2008 as well as having the drug for sale and supply in the same date.

The father-of-two denies all the charges against him.

A jury panel was due to be picked today for the start of the trial which is expected to last up to three weeks.

However, Judge John Hannon addressed the jury panel and told them he could not proceed with the case today.

The panel were dismissed and told to return for jury selection tomorrow for the start of the trial.

Following submissions from both legal teams, Judge Hannan was told that a key witness in the case had admitted himself to St Vincent’s psychiatric Hospital in Dublin yesterday.

It is now hoped that a medical report on the witness will be brought before the court before the case is due to commence tomorrow.

The late Bogdan Michalkiewicz

A jury will hear evidence how a Polish man had a television dropped on his head during an attack at his home in Letterkenny.

The arthritic man living alone in an apartment was stabbed several times, a barrister told the Central Criminal Court today.

Alex Owens SC was outlining the prosecution case as he opened the trial of two men accused of murdering Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41), at Westside Apartments in Letterkenny, on May 13, 2013.

During a second arraignment today, Krystof Grzegorski (22), of Hazelbrook Park, Letterkenny pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to manslaughter. Mr Owens said the plea was not accepted by the prosecution.

His co-accused Dariusz Weckowicz (51), who lived in Letterkenny at the time, pleaded not guilty to murder.

Mr Owens said that the deceased lived alone in the apartment where his body was discovered by his brother, two days after he had died.

The apartment complex was mostly unoccupied at the time with tenants in just one other flat. Mr Michalkiewicz, who came to Ireland in 2005, received a disability pension due to an arthritic condition and he required a crutch to walk.

He said the prosecution would call witnesses who would show that Mr Michalkiewicz suffered stab wounds to the face and abdomen and multiple “stamp” and “crush” injuries to the body.

He added that evidence will show that a television was “dropped on his head. His head was smashed in.”

He said the prosecution believes that the attack took place at about 1pm. The two accused then spent the evening together at various locations in Letterkenny but Dariusz Weckowicz returned that night and slept on a couch outside the apartment where Mr Michalkiewicz’s body lay.

The court then heard from Detective Sergeant Paul Curran of the Garda Technical Bureau who photographed the scene.

He described seeing the body in the living room and blood stains on the walls and carpet. Close by was a knife, an overturned chair, a broken computer and a cathode ray television that had been smashed.

He said the dead man’s upper clothes had been lifted and that his lower garments were lowered to his knees.

He also described a photograph that was shown to the jury which he said showed a bloody t-shirt, found at the scene, with footprint impressions in it.

The trial continues tomorrow in front of a jury of eight men and four women.