Psychiatric assessment ordered for man charged over grandfather’s death

A man charged in connection with the death of his grandfather just days before Christmas has yet to receive a psychiatric assessment, a court has been told.

Derek Mulligan appeared by videolink at Letterkenny District Court on Monday.

The 36-year-old is charged that on December 17, 2023 at Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, Gaoth Dobhair in the district area of An Clochan Liath, he did intentionally or recklessly cause serious harm to Derek Burns.

Mr Burns, who was in his 70s, passed away at Letterkenny University Hospital a number of days after the assault.

The pensioner was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital but subsequently died from his injuries.

On December 19, 2023, Detective Garda Paul Dolan gave evidence of arresting and charging the accused man.

Having arrested Mulligan, Detective Dolan said the accused made no reply.

The accused is also charged on the same date and place did cause criminal damage to a red Nissan Qashqai.

Mulligan, of Magheraclogher, Bunbeg is also charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a person known to him.

On the same date and location he is also charged with assaulting another person also known to him.

He is also charged with the assault of a third person on the same date and at the same location.

At Monday’s court appearance, solicitor for the accused, Mr Rory O'Brien, said directions were still awaited in the case from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr O'Brien told the court that his client had still not received any psychiatric report despite a previous request to have him assessed while in custody.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham noted there had been no psychiatric report available yet in the case.

The case was adjourned until January 29, 2024 for directions from the DPP.