Donegal pensioner faces trial for attempted sabotage of gas pipes at community centre

A pensioner is to stand trial accused of endangering the lives of people after sabotaging a gas pipe supply cylinder of a community centre in Carrigart.

Charlie Lynagh, 72, appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he faced three separate charges arising out of the attack at Mevagh Hall in Carrigart on October 22, 2022.

Lynagh is accused of using a knife to cut holes in two high pressure liquefied petroleum gas pipes and then turning on the gas on the attached bottle which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.

The charge was Contrary to Section 13of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

Lynagh is also charged with having a knife which had a blade or which was sharply pointed on the same date and at the same location.

This charge was Contrary to Section 9 (1) and (7) of the Firearms offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

He was also charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, two high pressure LPG rubber gas pipes belonging to Mevagh Parish intending to damage such property or beingwreckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

This charge was Contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said the Director of Public Prosecutions had sent the accused forward for trial at the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court in October on all three charges.

Garda Pauline Doherty gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on the accused at 11.20am on Monday.

His solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said the case was a serious one noting the community hall at which the sabotage took place is next to a local school. “It’s on the higher scale,” Mr Gallagher said.

He requested that two counsel be assigned to Lynagh during his trial and this was granted by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.

CCTV footage of Lynagh, of Tirloughan, Carrigart allegedly tampering with the gas cylinders had been circulating on social media.

Garda Matthew Burke, of Milford Garda Station, previously told a court that he arrested Lynagh at Letterkenny Courthouse and put the charges to him but he made no reply.

The accused man did not speak during the court hearing.

Judge Judge Cunningham  gave the accused the alibi warning and Lynagh was released on bail with the same terms and conditions as previous hearings.

The case was adjourned to the next session of Letterkenny Circuit Court, which gets underway on October 17.