A Letterkenny man, who was found drink-driving a horse and trap at 2.45 in the morning has been sent to prison after his ‘luck run out’.

On November 2, 2016, Danny Connors was observed driving the horse-drawn carriage between two lanes of the Neil T Blaney Road.

Connors, who was ‘highly intoxicated’, sped off after being pursued by Gardai.

Connors (44) of 7 Canal Road, Letterkenny, was sentenced to two months imprisonment after threatening Gardai with an iron bar and two glass bottles as they approached him.

Connors, who has 31 previous convictions, dismounted at Canal Road and held up an iron bar to Gardai, Inspector Sean Grant said.

Connors then picked up two glass bottles and waved them at the approaching officers, who pepper sprayed and arrested the defendant.

Defence solicitor Michael Shiel said Connors ‘was dying to take the horse out’.

“He got the horse a day or two before it,” Mr Shiel told Letterkenny District Court.

“I asked him why he took the horse and trap out at half-past two in the morning. He hadn’t had a chance to take it out and he was dying to get out on the horse.

“He realises that it was an act of lunacy. It was a crazy act to do. He had drink taken and his judgement wasn’t the best.”

Asked why he had taken off when Gardai attempted to stop him, Connors claimed he couldn’t control the horse and he tried to steer back home.

Connors pleaded guilty to the charges of attempting to drive an animal-propelled vehicle while drunk and resisting arrest.

“This incident is particularly graphic,” said Judge Paul Kelly. “He took an unfortunate animal out in that condition onto an extremely busy road at that out of the morning.

“He then tried to get away from Gardai and picked up a bar and bottles. His luck has run out.”

Judge Kelly sentenced Connors to two months in prison and issued a fine of €250.

Recognisance in the event of an appeal was set on Connors’ own bond of €400.

A District Court Judge has ordered a probation report in the case of 20-year-old Sarah Mihai, who appeared in court on a number of theft and credit card fraud charges. 

Mihai, of 20, Woodview Terrace in Stranorlar has pleaded guilty to the charges which date from 9 July 2016 6 November 2017.

Mihai was charged with the theft of property to the value of €50 from a barbers in the Courtyard Shopping Centre on July 9, 2016.

The defendant, was charged with the theft of €50 from a shop on July 19, 2016 and the Court heard that on 10 January, 2017, Mihai was observed taking a Simon Community collection box, containing around €150, from the All Seasons Charity Shop in Ballybofey, when she was accompanied by an older female, who distracted staff.

Inspector Sean Grant said Mihai was detained by security staff at St Conal’s Hospital after removing a purse from a handbag that was held in an office to which she gained entry. Mihai gave Gardai a false name and address when apprehended.

On October 17, 2017, Mihai entered the staff area of the Coffee Factory, took a purse from a locker and left the premises. Mihai subsequently used a card from the purse to make contactless payments in several locations.

Mihai admitted to the theft of €300 in mixed coins and two cartons of cigarettes, worth €178, after gaining entry to an office at John Mac’s Mace in Stranorlar on October 22, 2017.

On October 26, 2017, Mihai took a Samsung Galaxy 7 from the Private Collections shop at Letterkenny Shopping Centre. The phone was recovered later from a relative of Mihai.

On November 6, 2017, Mihai, after attempting to distract a shop assistant, went behind the till of Centra, Main Street, Ballybofey and removed 14 €50 notes from the till. After being held by a shop assistant, Gardai were able to recover and return the money, totalling €700.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said Mihai had €200 with her in court and that she wished to deal with the loss.

“She knew nothing better through her teenage years,” Mr Gallagher said. “She has been looking forward to her future. She has had her own difficulties, but she has a future ahead of her.

“She has got herself a job and is working part-time. She will raise through her employment any losses.

Judge Paul Kelly said a total of €500 was now due.

“She was in places she had no business being in,” Judge Kelly said. “There was a very mean-spirited one where she took €150 from a charity.”

Judge Kelly said a custodial sentence was ‘warranted’ in the court, but adjourned the matter to June 21 and directed that a probation report be prepared.

A 54-year-old New Mills man has been advised to seek legal advice after representing himself at court.

Seamus Hughes, of Brown Hall, New Mills, was before Letterkenny District Court on a number of charges arising out of an alleged incident on 16 October, 2016 at Main Street, Letterkenny.

Hughes is charged with refusing arrest, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, failing to atop at an accident, failing to report an accident and failing to give appropriate information.

Hughes addressed the court himself.

However, Judge Paul Kelly, adjourning the matter to October 18, 2018 for hearing, advised Hughes to obtain legal advice.

“I’m not sure you appreciate the seriousness of the situation that you’re in,” Judge Kelly said.

“You would benefit from legal advice and I have told you this before. You may not be doing yourself any favours doing it without professional advice.”

A drunken man who attacked a Garda car with his walking stick has escaped going to prison.

Tony Ward pulled the aerial off a Garda car and then attacked it with his walking aid while Gardai were at a disturbance in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on April 7th last.

Ward, 53, of no fixed abode, continued to be abusive to Gardai in Letterkenny Garda station when he was arrested, Letterkenny District Court heard.

His solicitor, Ms Deirdre Gallagher, said her client had been stressed out trying to find long-term accommodation.

He had not been taking his medication and was drinking heavily, she added.

Ward told the court “I know I was out of order and I’m extremely sorry.”

Judge Paul Kelly applied the probation act.

A young man fled from a Garda checkpoint and then abandoned his car and three passengers after crashing the car.

Tony Duggan took his father’s car without permission before going out on a night on the town with friends in Dunfanaghy on April 23rd last year.

On the way home, he met a Garda checkpoint which he turned back from before crashing into an oncoming at 2.18am.

Duggan, aged 20, then fled with his co-driver through fields leaving three young women in the car.

He was eventually apprehended by Gardai where he admitted driving the car.

Duggan, from Meenacladdy, Meenlaragh, Gortahork, appeared at Falcarragh District Court charged with a number of offences including drunk driving.

Garda Inspector David Kelly told the court that Duggan initially denied driving the car but then admitted being behind the wheel.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client had no previous convictions and ha learned a solitary lesson.

He said he has not been behind the wheel of any vehicle since the incident and will not be in the future.

Judge Paul Kelly told Duggan “You are lucky to be alive and lucky nobody in your car was seriously injured.”

He adjourned the case until June 20th to allow for a probation report.

A man who damaged two cars and injured a woman during a drink-driving spree was told by a Judge that he deserved to go to jail.

Kyle Boyle struck two cars, injuring a woman before hitting a stone wall in Dunfanaghy on January 15th, 2017.

Falcarragh District Court heard how Boyle had been driving at speed through Portnablagh before losing control and then striking the two cars and eventually crashing.

Boyle tried to phone friends but Gardai arrived and arrested him at the scene.

The accused, of Eden More, Dunafanaghy, had no insurance and failed to give either a breath, blood or urine sample to Gardai.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client was in England working but accepted the charges and wanted to put them behind him.

The court was told that Boyle, aged 22, has five previous convictions which were all for road traffic offences.

Solicitor Gallagher said Boyle was doing well in construction in England and was now in the care and guidance of his grandfather.

“He does not wish to go to jail and he has learned the hard way. He is still a young man of 22 and has learned a lot from his deeds and knows of his stupidity,” he added.

Judge Paul Kelly said the crime merited a custodial sentence but said it was probably not worth making the accused do a custodial sentence.

He fined him €500 and banned him from driving for four years for having no insurance, he jailed him for three months but suspended the term for two years for refusing to give a breath specimen.

He also fiend him a further €500 and disqualified him for driving for two years for dangerous driving.

A woman who harassed a young man and then punched a Garda in the face before falling as she tried to run away in high heels has been fined.

Sylvia Darby appeared at Letterkenny District Court following the attack in Letterkenny on October 16th, 2016.

Gardai told the court how they came across a group women shouting abuse at a young man around 2.15am at Lower Main Street.

They circled around the town and found Ms Darby, of Blue Cedars, Ballybofey still abusing the man close to Celtic Apartments on the Pearse Road.

The young man pleaded with Gardai to take the woman away from him but she continued to roar abuse at him and ignored Gardai.

One Gardai tried to move the woman on but she slipped away and when another Garda intervened, he was punched in the face.

The Gardai told the court that the woman tried to flee but she tripped up and fell because she was wearing high heels.

She continued to be abusive when she was arrested and taken to Letterkenny Garda station.

Solicitor for the accused, Mr Patsy Gallagher, told the court that his client was 25 and had an issue with alcohol.

“She was very intoxicated and her behaviour was very inappropriate,” he said.

Judge Paul Kelly fined Ms Darby €250.

A man who assaulted his uncle at a Christmas party at his local creche has been fined.

Dean Catterson was charged with spitting in the face of his uncle John McVeigh at the Wonder Years creche in Letterkenny, on December 23rd, 2016.

Both men appeared at Letterkenny District Court where Mr Catterson strongly denied any assault on his 70-year-old uncle.

Both men attended the party at the creche at Dromore on the outskirts of Letterkenny at around 2pm.

Mr McVeigh claimed that he was approached by Mr Catterson who asked him what he was looking as he was entering the creche building.

He then claimed that he followed him across the yard of the creche and then spat in his face.

Mr McVeigh claims he told Mr Catterson that he was calling the Gardai but claimed his nephew said “F*** the guards, I’m a big boy now.”

Mr Catterson, aged 39, and from Dromore, Letterkenny, completely denied this version of events.

He said that he never spat at Mr McVeigh and that the only altercation they had was a verbal one.

He claims that as he walked past Mr McVeigh but didn’t really recognise him and half acknowledged him.

However, he claimed that McVeigh then called him a “wa*****.”

He confronted McVeigh and asked him why he said that but McVeigh said he would “bust” him.

Catterson then said “He then walked out the gate and out to the road. He started shouting abuse, vile, horrible insults, like you’re a scumbag, prick, w***er, asshole and then vile abuse towards my mother.

“He called her horrible things. I could see other people walking into the creche. I was completely mortified to hear such abuse against me and my mother. It was a total disgrace.”

Catterson said he confronted McVeigh again and said to him “You said you were going to bust me – do it now or be quiet.”

The accused, an IT specialist, said he had known Mr McVeigh growing up but described him as always being a bully.

However, he said that in his adult life he had perhaps only encountered Mr McVeigh on three occasions.

“I didn’t even know he had children at the creche, I mean the man is 70 years old,” he added.

Judge Paul Kelly said what bothered him about the case was that Catterson was considerably younger than his accuser and had opportunities to walk away.

“One wonders what was in Mr Catteron’s head that he invited a man twice his age to bust him or hit him,” he said.

He described the incident as “a most childish incident” that he would have thought would have happened between children in the yard of the school creche rather than two adults.

He found the facts proven against Mr Catterson and ordered him to make a donation of €500 towards St Colmcille’s Hostel in Letterkenny.

He added that he would not record any conviction against Catterson and leave him with a clean record if he paid that donation.

A man who stole a wrap, wedges and a hot drink from Tesco in Letterkenny because he was hungry, has been given the probation act.

Lee Byrne, from Meadowbank Park in Letterkenny appeared before the local district court charged with two counts of theft.

The court heard how Byrne had moved from Dublin to Donegal to start a new life.

Byrne was still awaiting his social welfare benefits to be sorted out when he committed the crimes.

He stole the food, valued at €8.41 from Tesco on March 8th.

On March 20th he was caught stealing again at Dunnes Stores.

Judge Paul Kelly asked the accused why he moved from Dublin to Donegal and he was told because the rent was cheaper.

His solicitor, Patsy Gallagher, said his client was trying to get his life back in order and that he was applying for courses in the music business for which he has a passion.

Judge Kelly applied the poration act.

A Donegal man, who led Gardai on an ‘extraordinary’ 22 kilometre high-speed pursuit faces prison, a District Court Judge has said.

Danny McBride, from Carrigart, appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with 18 counts of dangerous driving following the chase between Kilmacrennan and Carrigart, which saw the defendant drive through junctions with the lights off at high speed.

Garda O’Riordan spotted a white Volkswagen Caddy near Abbey Village, Kilmacrennan and activated the lights and siren. The van came to a stop before speeding off.

Inspector Sean Grant said the vehicle drove through a stop sign and travelled through Kilmacrennan village at a speed in excess of 90 km/h.

“The vehicle was going up to 100km/h in a 50km/h zone and was on both sides of the road,” he said.

The court heard how the vehicle entered a junction on the wrong side before rounding two left-hand bends ‘completely on the wrong sid of the road’.

“As he drove up the road, he clipped ditches and was driving very erratically,” Inspector Grant said.

“The vehicle swerved left and just about avoided a collision with an oncoming car. At Barnes Lower, Termon, it was all over the road. He drove over the blow of a blind hill on the wrong side.”

Inspector Grant said the vehicle traveled through multiple town lands at speeds in excess of 120km/h.

“The vehicle was bouncing and sparks were flying from under it,” he said. “Some debris came off and hit the windscreen of the patrol car.”

After traveling on the road for around four miles, the driver of the vehicle turned off the lights and went through a junction without stopping.

Inspector Grant detailed how the vehicle sped through Glen village at more than 100 km/ph before overtaking a taxi.

On the main Carrigart to Creeslough road, the vehicle again broke a stop sign and turned the lights off.

“More debris came off as he accelerated towards Carrigart,” Inspector Grant said.

“He went down past the Garda station in Carrigart still on the wrong side of the road. He turned right, slammed on the brakes at Gortnabrade and abandoned the vehicle, getting out on and making off on foot.”

Gardai followed McBride, who entered a house, but could not find him.  Gardai arrested McBride some time later and charged him with 18 counts of dangerous driving.

“One bad idea followed another,” solicitor for McBride, Mr Frank Dorrian, said.

“This man is 31 and has no previous. This was one continuous act. One vehicle was encountered and navigated. It was lucky that there was no accident.

“The circumstances were reckless and without heed as he continued the endeavour. The basis for his departure was that he believed himself to be impaired as he had been drinking.

“The deviation from his ordinary standard of behaviour is quite spectacular. He apologises as profoundly as he can. It was unacceptable on any level. He has read an account and finds it hard to believe that this was he.”

Mr Dorrian submitted character references for McBride which, he said, ‘reflected a change in lifestyle and attitude’.

Judge Paul Kelly said it was an ‘extraordinary pursuit’.

“The display of driving and the distance makes it impossible to deal with in any way other than a custodial sentence,” Judge Kelly said.

“He could have stopped at any time. I fail to understand why he didn’t. The car was bouncing off the round, sparks were flying, he was clipping ditches. Even when he stopped, he eluded pursuit.”

Judge Kelly adjourned the case to June 21 next and ordered a probation report as he ‘explores possible alternatives’ in the case.

A man who received free food from a charity later robbed it twice and caused more than €1,000 worth of damage to its premises.

Chad Mitchell appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with two burglaries at the ‘We Care Food Bank’ at Market Square in Letterkenny on July 21st and August 1st last.

Mitchell broke into the charity’s premises through a rear door on August 21st and stole €30 in cash.

After the robbery, the charity fitted expensive CCTV cameras and a security system.

However, a few days later on August 1st, Mitchell broke into the charity’s premises again.

He stole food but also removed the CCTV system’s hard-drive as well as pulling down cameras.

He was arrested on March 5th last after being identified by fingerprints he left at the scene fo the robberies.

His solicitor, Mr Gordon Curley, said his client had been on drugs at the time and was trying to pay off a drug debt.

However, he is since off drugs and is looking to move away from Letterkenny when he is freed from jail.

Judge Paul Kelly said the crime was “unforgivable.”

“It is unforgivable to take advantage of a premises which was assisting him and others,” he said.

Judge Kelly jailed Mitchell, of Windmill View, Letterkenny, for 3 months and also fined him a total of €400.

A man who told a Garda that he would rape his family after being arrested has been remanded in custody.

Damian Zygmunt was arrested by Gardai in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on Sunday evening.

Zygmunt was already wanted by Gardai in connection with another matter for which there was a bench warrant out for his arrest from December, 2016.

The 25-year-old from Riverside Apartments, Letterkenny is charge with three different assault charges as well as another charge under the Weapons and Firearms Act.

Detective Garda Stephen McGonagle gave evidence of arresting Zygmunt at Sallaghraine, Letterkenny at 6.20pm.

When the charges were put to him at Letterkenny Garda station, Zygmunt replied “I’ll rape your family.”

Judge Paul Kelly remanded the accused in custody until Monday next, April 30th.

A woman sent anonymous cards to the family of a woman telling them she had had a secret child.

Margaret Gallagher appeared at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with harassing Theresa Tyrrell and her son.

Ms Tyrell and her son Gary received three cards in total which were sent anonymously in April, 2017.

The letters made reference to her first-born child whom she had when she was a young woman and which her other son Gary was not even aware of.

The matter was reported to Gardai and an investigation was launched into where the cards came from.

Detective Garda Alfie McHale managed to get a nineteen digit code from the stamp on one of the letters and was able to trace it back to the shop in which it was sold.

A trawl of CCTV footage of the shop identified Ms Gallagher buying the stamps and despite initially denying she sent the letters, she eventually admitted the crime.

She claimed she sent the letters after a fall-out between herself and Mrs Tyrell at the Chesire Apartments, a centre for adults with learning difficulties in Letterkenny.

The accused, of Croagh Patrick Avenue, Letterkenny, claims that Ms Tyrrell bullied her daughter who also worked at the Cheshire Apartments.

In her statement to Gardai, Ms Gallagher said she was “really sorry” and didn’t realise sending the cards was a criminal offence.

“I felt sorry for Gary but she made my daughter’s life hell. She got girls suspended from work but it was a stupid thing to do,” she said.

The court was told that the Tyrrell family wanted the matter to be heard in public as it was the only way people would know what had happened to them.

Ms Tyrrell told the court that she denied ever bullying anybody at work and that she still worked at the Cheshire Apartments, a centre for adults with learning difficulties.

“I am still working there and nothing has been proven at work,” she said.

Ms Tyrrell’s son Gary said the apology given by Ms Gallagher does not make any difference to him or his family.

“This is the first I have heard of an apology. It doesn’t make any difference, the hurt is already caused.

“I can’t understand why the defendant would try to ruin my life and destroy everything I have known to be true. Her solicitor said it was not out of revenge but I want to know why?” he said.

Solicitor for the accused, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client had no previous convictions and was “deeply apologetic” for her actions.

“The victim impact statement has deeply affected my client,” he said.

He asked for the case to be put back to allow for a Probation report.

Judge Paul Kelly said this was a “deeply distressing case” and said the victim impact statements from Ms Tyrrell and her son were “heart-wrenchingly eloquent.”

He said ” I can only imagine the complete and utter turmoil it must have set off when Ms Tyrrell opened the first card and to wait and see the post and what it would say and how she would address it with her son who knew nothing of this until this happened.

“It is utterly incomprehensible how someone could sit down and write these materials and go and post them in Northern Ireland to throw people off the scent and do it over a period of time.

“I fail to understand the state of mind involved there,” he said.

Judge Kelly adjourned the case until July 9th to allow for a Probation report on Ms Gallagher.

Two women who advertised a household cleaning service on Facebook “cleaned” out a client’s house of almost €2,000 in personal items.

Chloe Colsh and Anne Marie Dunphy appeared at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with theft from the home of victim Carol Doherty in Kilmacrennan.

Ms Doherty later came across the victims at Letterkenny Bus station after they had cleaned her house at Illistrin Little on March 4th, 2017.

The victim noticed that the two women had some of her personal belongings with them.

She confronted them and the women fled and when Ms Doherty returned home, she discovered numerous items had been taken.

The list included a Nintendo DS, a child’s gold ring, an Apple iPod, a silver necklace, a Google Nexus tablet and a Samsung camera.

It was estimated that the stolen property was valued at up to €2,000 bt some of the stolen items had since been recovered.

The court heard that many of the items had been traded in locally at a shop.

Ms Doherty tried to contact the two women through Facebook messenger but they blocked her messages.

The pair, Colsh, aged 20, and Dunphy, aged 28, who are originally from the Midlands, moved to Donegal where they had an address together at Forest Park, Killygordon.

Solicitor for the women, Mr Gordon Curley, said the women had €200 each in compensation for the victim.

He said the women had come up with the scheme in order to make some money as they had none and that this was their first jobs.

They advertised their services on Facebook and charged €25 per home.

Ms Doherty, who was also in court, said she had received a letter of apology but said she was still out a substantial amount of money.

Judge Paul Kelly adjourned the case until May 28th to allow the women to come up with further compensation to the value of €370 for the victim.

A young man was found in possession of €460 worth of cannabis and a ‘tick list’ when Garda raided his home in Ballybofey.

Gary Chambers appeared at Letterkenny District Court facing a number of charges.

Gardai visited Chambers home at Carrick Crescent, Ballybofey and found the cannabis and the tick list.

Chambers was not there but was at an address at The Beeches in Ballybofey.

He was arrested and detained and made full admissions to Gardai.

At a later date on December 29th, 2012, he was spotted by Gardai walking in the middle of the road and was highly intoxicated.

He refused to get off the road, was arrested and then urinated in the Garda patrol van which cost €60 to have cleaned.

His solicitor Mr Kieran Dillon told the court that he had been under the influence of undesirable influences.

He said that when he drinks he accepts that he behaves badly.

Judge Paul Kelly ordered a probation report and adjourned the case until June 21st.

A man who was released on bail while awaiting trial for the alleged sexual exploitation of a child has been ordered to move to another part of Co Donegal.

The man appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court today after Gardai claimed the man has breached the conditions of his bail.

The man had been ordered to sign on weekly for the past 20 weeks at a Garda station but had failed to do so on 13 occasions.

Gardai also said the mother of the alleged victim had said he had been in contact with the girl and that they had had sex on a number of occasions.

It was also alleged the man had contacted the girl by Snapchat.

Judge John Aylmer asked Gardai if the man was considered a flight risk.

Gardai replied by saying that around €20,000 in cash was found in the man’s house and that he had another €20,000 in a bank account.

After some deliberation between the man’s barrister, Mr Peter Nolan, and state barrister Ms Patricia McLaughlin, an agreement to new bail conditions was reached.

The court ordered that the man cease all contact with the alleged injured party either physically, by phone or by social media.

The man also agreed to move from his home area to Letterkenny where he is to sign on four times each week including each Saturday and also to provide Gardai with a mobile phone number.

The man agreed and was warned that any breach of these conditions would result in the man’s bail being revoked.

Two men have pleaded guilty to a robbery in which a “vulnerable man” was attacked and robbed for just €4.

Stephen Scott and Paddy Sweeney appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court in relation to the robbery at Simpson’s Supermarket Carpark in Letterkenny.

A detective previously told how the victim almost died after he was allegedly viciously attacked during the incident which happened last October.

The man, a 53-year-old who was in the care of the HSE, was allegedly assaulted in the carpark of Simpson’s Supermarket at Circular Road in the town.

Following an investigation by Gardai, two men, Patrick Sweeney and Stephen Scott, aged 24, from Meadowbank, Letterkenny, appeared in court.

The men applied for bail previously but were refused.

Garda Detective Joseph Kealy said he was objecting to bail in the case because of the seriousness of the charges.

He added that both used the same shops and the local Glencar Inn and he feared they could also meet there and that the victim could be intimidated by the accused.

“This man was severely assaulted, he was punched, kicked and stamped upon. This is a serious offence of robbery where a vulnerable 53-year-old man was severely assaulted and robbed for €4.

“I feel if they met on the road that he would intimidate the injured party,” said Detective Kealy.

He added that the result of the alleged attack could have had much worse consequences for the alleged victim.

“I think we’re very fortunate that the injured party didn’t receive fatal injuries,” added Detective Kealy.

The case was subsequently sent forward to the circuit for hearing and the men pleaded guilty yesterday.

Their plea, in front of Judge John Aylmer, will be heard next week and sentencing will be passed.

An armed robber who tried to escape from a hold-up by jumping through a cafe window bounced onto the floor before sheepishly walking out the front door.

Chad Mitchell appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court facing three different robberies at three different premises.

The court heard how Mitchell, who is originally from Letterkenny, carried out the raids in the summer of 2015 when he was in a “dark place” due to drugs.

Mitchell appeared in court where he pleaded guilty to all three charges.

The first robbery happened at the Happy Days store in Letterkenny on June 4th.

Detective Garda Derek Connaughton told how Mitchell had his face covered and socks on his hands when he pushed his way past staff and took €300 from the cash register.

Mitchell, who had been spotted close to the shop by Gardai just 20 minutes before the raid, then fled to Derry after calling a taxi.

Three days later on June 7th, Mitchell entered a cafe in Carndonagh, picked up a butter knife and threatened staff.

He took €200 from the till and threw a chair at the window of the premises in a bid to jump out to make his escape.

However, the internal glass in the window only shattered and when Mitchell tried to jump through the glass, he bounced back onto the floor and walked out through the door.

During the third raid on a letting agent’s premises at Academy Court in Letterkenny, on June 17th, he threatened a receptionist at 9.30am.

He threatened to stab the terrified woman unless she handed over the cash box and also took her mobile phone.

Mitchell again escaped by taxi but soon realised there was no cash in the box.

Detective Connaughton told the court how he called to Mitchell’s grandmother’s home on July 15th and found him hiding in the hot press.

He made admissions to all crimes.

Barrister for Mitchell, Sean MacAodh, said his client had a serious issue with drugs but was now getting clean and had been living in Tulsk in Co Roscommon to stay away from bad influences in his life.

He added that his client had gone to meet his biological father in Derry but that had not worked out and that his life spiralled out of control.

Just one of the three people whom Mitchell robbed gave a victim impact to Gardai.

French national Pascal Thomas, who owned the cafe in Carndonagh, said he was shaken and terrified after the robbery.

He said he still thinks what could have happened when Mitchell grabbed the knife from him and that he feels he could have been easily hurt.

He said he will not open the cafe when he is not working as he is frightened that his staff would be hurt if there was another such robbery.

Judge John Aylmer said he placed the crimes at the lower end of the mid-range of seriousness.

He sentenced Mitchell to a total of 20 months in prison for the Carndonagh attack and backdated the time to March 6th when he entered custody.

A man who sexually assaulted a ten-year-old girl has appeared before Carndonagh District Court.

Judge Paul Kelly heard how a schoolgirl and her ten-year-old friend were in a charity shop in the peninsula when the defendant approached them and rammed his tongue down the victim’s throat.

The man – who cannot be named because of a court order – pleaded guilty to the sexual assault charge dating back to August, 2016.

Inspector Shaun Grant told Judge Kelly: “While they were in the shop a male began talking to her. He had his arm round her and began kissing her. She pulled away.”

The court heard how the defendant then proceeded to stick his tongue down her mouth.

When she tried to leave he followed her.

In the girl’s statement – which was read out in court, she said: “I just remember he just came really close and started kissing me and then he wouldn’t leave me alone. I walked out and he followed. He then said ‘do you want to come back to my house and start kissing’.

The victim returned home and told her 15-year-old brother, and mother. They then made the complaint to the Gardai.

The defendant’s defence solicitor, Mr Gillespie, said his client wished to apologise to the complainant and the complainant’s mother.

He said: “It is a matter that has caused profound embarrassment and has been a turning point in his life.

“He is 57-years-old and is a bachelor living in his family home. He is unable to read or write and has a number of health problems. He also has a mental health matter.”

He said he has had ‘some difficulty’ in dealing with the death of his mother.

“He has assured me there would be no repeat of this,” he told Judge Kelly.

Mr Gillespie said his client was socially awkward and tends to ‘keep to himself’.

A letter was handed up to Judge Kelly from the man’s GP.

The victim and her mother did not attend the court.

Judge Kelly said that given the circumstances and the medical report he had received, he would seek intervention from the probation services. The matter was adjourned until July for a probation report.

A mixed Martial Arts fighter who drove without insurance has been fined, a court heard.

Darragh Kelly, of Cornstone, Bath Terrace Lane, Moville, appeared before Carndonagh District Court charged with no insurance on May last year, in Letterkenny.

His defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said: “He tells me he trains all the time and is looking for a career in MMA.”

The court heard 20-year-old Kelly has no previous convictions was insured on his mother’s car.

Judge Kelly fined him €250 with two months to pay. On production of his driving licence to court, he said he wouldn’t disqualify him on this occasion.