Two men arrested in Derry over brutal assault in Lifford

Two men have been arrested in Derry in connection with a savage assault that left a Lifford man fighting for his life.

Charles Dooher, a 26-year-old, was brutally beaten in his home on the Conneyburrow Road on Monday morning and underwent emergency surgery after being airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

His father, Charles Dooher senior, who is in his 60s, also received injuries in the attack and received treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital.

A major cross-border manhunt was launched as authorities on both sides of the border sought information on the masked gang.

On Tuesday night, two men were arrested by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch.

The two men, lifted in the Derry area, are being held in police custody.

As officers from the PSNI conducted a probe across the border, Garda detectives carried out door-to-door enquiries in the Lifford area.

As Mr Dooher fought for his life in Belfast, his mother, Annmarie, issued a plea for prayers for her son.

“I am asking for prayers for my beautiful, brave son,” Ms Dooher wrote on social media.

“My poor son is fighting for his life and needs your prayers. Please pray for my son please pray for his recovery.”

Ms Dooher said the gang, armed with what she said were ‘steel batons’, broke into her home after 10am and left him “laying for dead”.

She said: “I sit here desperate with my son’s life in God’s hands. I am asking you to join your hands together for my son and pray for his recovery. Pray for his healing. Pray for my son my beautiful son my wonderful son.”

Emergency services rushed to the scene, on the N15 road on the way into the border town, with multiple Garda units, including the Armed Response Unit, involved. 

The scene remains sealed off with Gardai remaining at the scene.

Gardaí issued a fresh appeal for any witnesses to the incident or anyone with any information to come forward.

A spokesperson said: “Any persons who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from Coneyburrow Road, Lifford, between 10am and 11am, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

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“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 9167100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”