Four men enter guilty pleas for assaults in violent Letterkenny incident

Four men have admitted their parts in a violent incident in Letterkenny.

Darren Doherty, Thomas Dorrian, Matthew Noonan and PJ Dorrian all pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm.

The charges relate to an incident at Sylvan Park, Letterkenny on October 1, 2020.

The quartet all pleaded guilty when they appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court while a fifth defendant was discharged from the indictment.

The case had been listed for trial, but the four men were then arraigned before Judge John Aylmer and pleaded guilty.

Darren Doherty, a 30-year-old of Glendale Drive in Letterkenny, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault causing harm, contrary to section 3  of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. He was charged in respect of two victims, Cormac Logue and Sean Balcarres.

Thomas Dorrian, a 26-year-old from Glenoughty Close, Letterkenny, also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to both Cormac Logue and Sean Balcarres. 

Both 23-year-old Matthew Noonan and PJ Dorrian, a 24-year-old - both of Glenoughty Close - admitted assaulting Cormac Logue and causing harm.

Nolle prosequis were entered by the State for a charge of violent disorder against three of the accused men - Darren Doherty, Thomas Doherty and PJ Doherty - meaning they do not face prosecution for that charge. The State also entered a nolle prosequi for a charge of burglary against Matthew Noonan.

Ms Fiona Crawford BL, barrister for the State, told the court that the guilty pleas entered met the case so a jury would not be required.

Counsel for each of the accused asked that the matter be adjourned for sentencing until the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court and sought the preparation of probation and welfare reports. 

Darren Doherty was represented by Mr Niall O’Neill BL, instructed by solicitor Ms Alison Parke; Thomas Dorrian was represented by Mr Sean McGee BL, instructed by Mr Rory O’Brien, solicitor; Mr Damien Crawford BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Donough Cleary, represented Noonan; and PJ Dorrian was represented by Mr McGee, instructed by Ms Parke.

Judge Aylmer adjourned the matter and the accused men were granted bail on the same terms and conditions.