Latest news with #FionaCrawford
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Co Donegal businessman admits sexually assaulting 15-year-old girl
The accused cannot be named at this stage of proceedings A Co Donegal businessman has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The man, who is in his 40s, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court. The accused, who cannot be named at this stage of proceedings, spoke only to plead guilty. He pleaded guilty to assaulting the girl by touching her on her breast and her vagina through her clothing. A second count was taken into consideration. The court was told the married businessman, who is also a father, employs a number of people in his business. He has no previous convictions. Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West News Pix News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd The court was told that the victim now resides outside of the country but was present in court for the brief arraignment. The charge is contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990. Ms Fiona Crawford BL, prosecutor for the State, said that the guilty plea to the count of sexual assault met the case on a full facts basis. Barrister for the accused man, Mr James McGowan SC, with Mr Peter Nolan BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Donough Cleary, said his client is a businessman with 'a number of employees'. The man's barrister requested a full Probation and Welfare Report on his client before final sentencing was passed. Judge Roderick Maguire granted the request and adjourned the case until October for sentencing. The victim, who was accompanied to court by a number of family members, was told she could attend the sentencing by videolink.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish businessman pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 15 year-old girl
A Co Donegal businessman has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The man, who is in his 40s, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court. The accused, who cannot be named at this stage of proceedings, spoke only to plead guilty. He pleaded guilty to assaulting the girl by touching her on her breast and her vagina through her clothing. A second count was taken into consideration. The court was told the married businessman, who is also a father, employs a number of people in his business. He has no previous convictions. The court was told that the victim now resides outside of the country but was present in court for the brief arraignment. The charge is contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990. Ms Fiona Crawford BL, prosecutor for the State, said that the guilty plea to the count of sexual assault met the case on a full facts basis. Barrister for the accused man, Mr James McGowan SC, with Mr Peter Nolan BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Donough Cleary, said his client is a businessman with 'a number of employees'. The man's barrister requested a full Probation and Welfare Report on his client before final sentencing was passed. Judge Roderick Maguire granted the request and adjourned the case until October for sentencing. The victim, who was accompanied to court by a number of family members, was told she could attend the sentencing by videolink. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Journal
05-06-2025
- The Journal
Man jailed over bogus 999 calls about bodies floating in the sea off the coast of Donegal
A MAN WHO made bogus calls to the emergency services about bodies floating in the sea off Co Donegal has been jailed for two and a half years. Father-of-three Nathan Coughlan also admitted breaking into and robbing churches during a crime spree over a five-year period. Coughlan, who has 197 previous convictions and is already in prison custody, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where he pleaded guilty to a raft of charges. Today, Judge John Aylmer jailed the 28-year-old for a total of three years and eight months but suspended the last 14 months of the sentence to encourage his rehabilitation. Some of the sentences handed down were consecutive to each other, as Coughlan had committed some offences while out on bail for making a bogus call to the emergency services. Judge Aylmer allowed him a reduction in sentence for the initial headline sentences because of mitigation, telling the court that Coughlan had entered a guilty plea to all charges and that he was now using his time well while in prison. He added that Coughlan is turning his mind towards rehabilitation and his addiction to cocaine and that it does appear that he is anxious to deal with that addiction despite not being able to start treatment for addiction just yet while in prison. The charges related to ten different incidents, all of which were carried out while Coughlan was either drunk or on drugs. The accused, who is originally from Ennis in Co Clare, has been in custody at Castlerea Prison since last October. Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle and state prosecutor Fiona Crawford outlined the litany of charges and details of the incidents. In total, the accused was charged with making three separate bogus calls to the emergency services, as well as breaking into four different church buildings on various dates. Coughlan pleaded guilty to making a false report at Single Street, Finner, Bundoran on 11 November 2019, that a person was on a cliff in horrendous weather conditions which sparked a major rescue alert involving the coastguard, RNLI, fire service, gardaí and ambulance service. A recording of the bogus call identified Coughlan as the culprit by Garda Mark Geraghty, and the accused admitted buying a cheap Nokia phone, using it and then throwing it into the sea. Coughlan admitted making two more bogus calls saying a body was floating in the sea at Bundoran on 21 February 2021 and 2 April 2021. Again, the emergency services were launched including the Rescue 118 helicopter while the cost of just the fire service attending was €1,000, the court was told. Coughlan was again identified and when interviewed by gardaí, the accused said he felt ashamed and wanted to get help for what he had done while admitting he was drunk at the time. Break-ins Doyle, along with state barrister, Ms Fiona Crawford, also outlined a number of break-ins and robberies to churches. He admitted entering the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Bundoran on 7 March 2021 and attempting to steal from four donation boxes after smashing a lock on the church to gain entry. On 2 October 2022, Coughlan admitted breaking into the Sacred Heart Church on Station Road in Mountcharles and causing €630 in criminal damage and stealing €30 from donation boxes. Advertisement Coughlan caused criminal damage to a house belonging to Fr Patrick Dunne at Church Street in Ballyshannon on 8 September 2024, when he ripped beading from a window but was spotted by a local woman. He fled the scene but was caught on CCTV and admitted carrying out the criminal damage. The accused also caused €2,700 of damage to stained-glass windows when he broke into St Claire's Church in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim on 3 October 2024. Damage was also caused to a key lock as well as two candelabras, while Coughlan also entered the sacristy of the church and removed the CCTV system valued at €500. When interviewed, Coughlan said it was him, but he couldn't really tell as he was 'off his face' on ecstasy and cocaine. He also pleaded guilty to a number of other burglaries including stealing tools from a house in Kinlough, Co Leitrim and €240 in cash from a cash register at Kernan's Spar at Moorefield in Ramelton on 1 October 2024. He also admitted breaking into Bundoran Adventure Park on 6 March 2021 and stealing €1,100 of power tools and causing €400 of damage to windows while he was drunk. Doyle said all injured parties had been canvassed, but none had made victim impact statements. Man is now drug-free Coughlan's solicitor, Mr Peter Nolan, BL, instructed by solicitor Rory O'Brien, said he has had a long relationship with Coughlan and that he was resolute at all times about pleading guilty. He said his latest probation is not encouraging and places him at a very high risk of reoffending, but that he has been in custody, is now drug-free and is an enhanced prisoner. He gave a background to the accused man's life, stating that he left school at fifteen and has had no meaningful employment in his life. Nolan admitted's Coughlan's previous convictions are extensive, and the probation report did not show any green shoots but suggested the green shoots are in prison where he is trying to do his best to deal with his drug problem. Coughlan took to the witness box and apologised to everyone he had hurt and admitted that he put himself on a 'self-destruct mode.' Although he has not seen his three children for a number of months, Coughlan was adamant that if he stays off the drugs, he has a chance of getting back with his partner and seeing his kids once more. Asked by Nolan if he had enough motivation to do this, Coughlan replied: 'I do, I don't want them going down the same road as me.' He added: 'I'm sorry for what I did, although I never physically hurt anyone, I know the psychological effect it can have. I know it can be mentally and financially damaging, and I'm sorry for doing that. 'I had an addiction and my head was just fried. The last thirteen years of my life was getting intolerable, and it had to come to an end.' Having sentenced Coughlan to an overall period of two and a half years in prison, Judge Aylmer backdated the sentence to when he went into custody on 9 October last year. He also ordered Coughlan to go under the supervision and direction of the Probation Service, including the completion of any residential treatment programme recommended. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dad of 3 in court over bogus emergency calls about bodies floating in the sea
A father of three who made bogus calls to the emergency services about bodies floating in the sea off Donegal will be sentenced next month. Nathan Coughlan also admitted to breaking into and robbing churches during a crime spree over a five-year period. The 28-year-old, who has 197 previous convictions, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where he pleaded guilty to a raft of charges. The charges relate to ten different incidents, all of which were carried out while Coughlan was either drunk or on drugs. The accused, who is originally from Ennis in Co Clare, has been in custody at Castlerea Prison since last October. Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle and state prosecutor Ms Fiona Crawford outlined the litany of charges and details of the incidents. In total, the accused was charged with making three separate bogus calls to the emergency services as well as breaking into four different church buildings on various dates. Coughlan firstly pleaded guilty to making a false report at Single Street, Finner, Bundoran on November 11, 2019, that a person was on a cliff in horrendous weather conditions, which sparked a major rescue alert involving the coastguard, RNLI, fire service, Gardaí and ambulance service. A recording of the bogus call identified Coughlan as the culprit by Garda Mark Geraghty and the accused admitted buying a cheap Nokia phone, using it and then throwing it into the sea. Coughlan admitted making two more bogus calls saying a body was floating in the sea at Bundoran on February 21, 2021 and April 2, 2021. Again, the emergency services were launched, including the Rescue 118 helicopter, while the cost of just the fire service attending was €1,000, the court was told. Coughlan was again identified and when interviewed by Gardaí, the accused said he felt ashamed and wanted to get help for what he had done while admitting he was drunk at the time. Garda Doyle, along with state barrister, Ms Fiona Crawford, also outlined a number of break-ins and robberies to churches. He admitted entering the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Bundoran on March 7, 2021 and attempting to steal from four donation boxes after smashing a lock on the church to gain entry. On October 2, 2022, Coughlan admitted breaking into the Sacred Heart Church on Station Road in Mountcharles and causing €630 in criminal damage and stealing €30 from donation boxes. Coughlan caused criminal damage to a house belonging to Fr Patrick Dunne at Church Street in Ballyshannon on September 8, 2024, when he ripped beading from a window but was spotted by a local woman. He fled the scene but was caught on CCTV and admitted carrying out the criminal damage. The accused also caused €2,700 of damage to stained glass windows when he broke into St Claire's Church in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim on October 3, 2024. Damage was also caused to a key lock as well as two candelabras, while Coughlan also entered the sacristy of the church and removed the CCTV system, valued at €500. When interviewed, Coughlan said it was him but he couldn't really tell as he was "off his face" on ecstasy and cocaine". He also pleaded guilty to a number of other burglaries, including stealing tools from a house in Kinlough, Co Leitrim and €240 in cash from a cash register at Kernan's Spar at Moorefield in Ramelton on October 1, 2024. He also admitted breaking into Bundoran Adventure Park on March 6, 2021 and stealing €1,100 of power tools and causing €400 of damage to windows while he was drunk. Sergeant Doyle said all injured parties had been canvassed but none had made victim impact statements. Coughlan's solicitor, Mr Peter Nolan, BL, instructed by solicitor Rory O'Brien, said he has had a long relationship with Coughlan and that he was resolute at all times about pleading guilty. He said his latest probation is not encouraging and places him at a very high risk of reoffending but that he has been in custody, is now drug-free and is an enhanced prisoner. He gave a background to the accused man's life, stating that he left school at fifteen and has had no meaningful employment in his life. Mr Nolan admitted's Coughlan's previous convictions are extensive and the probation report did not show any green shoots, but suggested the green shoots are in prison where he is trying to do his best to deal with his drug problem. Coughlan took to the witness box and apologised to everyone he had hurt and admitted that he put himself on "self destruct mode". Although he has not seen his three children for a number of months, Coughlan was adamant that if he stays off the drugs he has a chance of getting back with his partner and seeing his kids once more. Asked by Mr Nolan if he had enough motivation to do this, Coughlan replied: "I do, I don't want them going down the same road as me." And he added: "I'm sorry for what I did, although I never physically hurt anyone, I know the psychological effect it can have. I know it can be mentally and financially damaging and I'm sorry for doing that. "I had an addiction and my head was just fried. The last thirteen years of my life was getting intolerable and it had to come to an end." Judge John Aylmer remanded Coughlan in custody for final sentence on June 4 next.
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Donegal Judge says court cannot continue to adjourn cases to facilitate gardaí as case list doubles
Donegal's Circuit Court Judge has said the court system cannot continue to adjourn cases to facilitate gardaí. Judge John Aylmer voiced his annoyance at the ongoing situation as the list of criminal cases for the current three-week Letterkenny Circuit Court sitting reached more than 200 cases. Advertisement Judge Aylmer noted that the spiralling list had more than doubled from around 100 cases in the past 18 months. As well as a list of 212 criminal cases for the current court session, there are extensive civil cases, licensing matters, and District Court appeals to address on the list. Addressing the court on the first day of the current sittings yesterday, he told State prosecutor, Ms Fiona Crawford, that he wanted a message to go out 'loud and clear' to An Garda Síochána. Judge Aylmer said that the schedule for the Circuit Court is known from October of each year. Advertisement He added that gardaí should not take holidays during sessions and that officers who aren't present should have to take an oath in the witness box to explain why. And he warned of the consequences if the court was forced to adjourn cases because of the absence of gardaí. He said: 'We can't facilitate guards in that way or we will have a list of 300 (cases).' He said the State prosecution team should have clear instructions on cases by the start of the court term. Judge Aylmer added, 'The list is taking too long to call because you don't know what the position is.'
