Donegal ear-bite accused remanded in custody after extradition from UK

A Donegal man accused of biting a piece off another man’s ear has been remanded in custody after being extradited back to Ireland.

Owen McDonagh was brought before Judge Monika Leech at Letterkenny District Court by detectives on Thursday morning.

Detective Garda Cathal Feely gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of McDonagh, a 30-year-old of Big Isle, Manorcunningham.

The accused man was arrested at Dublin Airport at 6.20pm on Wednesday, October 22 on foot of a bench warrant issued on March 21, 2024 at Letterkenny District Court.

McDonagh was conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station, where he was charged at 11.40pm. McDonagh made no reply to the charge.

McDonagh was not granted station bail and Detective Garda Feely told the court that gardai were objecting to bail being granted.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that the matter be dealt with by way of a Circuit Court trial.

Following a report at 10.08am on December 28, 2022, Gardai arrived at a residential property in Letterkenny. An injured party was observed with blood flowing from both of his ears and mouth and was missing a piece of his right ear. The victim has suffered “lasting disfigurement”, the court was told.

Detective Garda Feely said that witness statements and medical reports as well as CCTV were available. 

McDonagh was said to have subsequently fled the jurisdiction and had to be conveyed to Ireland via a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) warrant from authorities in the UK.

Detective Garda Feely said the victim in the case would have “serious concerns for his safety” were McDonagh to be granted bail. The Detective Garda added that he believed that McDonagh would not turn up to court and had to be compelled to be brought to this jurisdiction.

He said there were “no conditions” that would ease the concerns of An Garda Síochána.

Solicitor Oliver Roche, for McDonagh, said his client was granted bail at a court in London following the lodgement of a £10,000 cash surety. McDonagh had been wearing an electronic tag, which was only removed by authorities at the airport on Wednesday.

Mr Roche said there was a sum of €5,000 on offer for a surety to the court and that the accused’s brother was at court.

Judge Leech said that while McDonagh was entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, she was not granting bail due to the “compelling” and “overwhelming” evidence that suggested McDonagh would not stand trial if he was allowed bail. 

Judge Leech said it would be “inappropriate” to admit McDonagh to bail as: “I don’t believe he would present himself for trial. I believe that he would leave the jurisdiction. He has already done it once. I am not satisfied that he would turn up.”

Legal aid was granted to Mr Roche and McDonagh was remanded in custody to appear again before Buncrana District Court on Tuesday, October 28.