Further remand for man in Loughanure vehicle fire case

A west Donegal man charged with setting a van alight in Loughanure has been further remanded in custody.

Damien McGeehan, a 34-year-old from Annagry, was before Letterkenny District Court via video link from Castlerea Prison where he is on remand.

McGeehan is charged with causing criminal damage to a vehicle, in which work tools were destroyed. McGeehan was also charged with causing criminal damage to a wing mirror of a vehicle.

The charges, relating to incidents on October 10, 2025, are contrary to section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

He was also charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words of behaviour on the same date at the same location. The charge is contrary to section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.

McGeehan is also charged with assault causing harm to a woman on a date in August. That charge is contrary to section 3 (1) and 3 (2) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 (as amended by section 20 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023.

Solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian said that his client has been charged with a section 3 assault “in circumstances where there is no medical report or photographs”. Mr Dorrian added: “The charge should only have been brought with sufficient evidence. I accept that the complainant’s evidence is there, but my client is in custody effectively indefinitely.”

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that a file on the matters pertaining to the October 10 incidents has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

McGeehan has previously been refused bail in the High Court on all matters, Mr Dorrian said.

The solicitor asked that the car be put into a date in January to enable it to proceed at the earliest opportunity.

Judge Emile Daly remanded McGeehan in custody to appear again in January.