'They’ll have to face God': Charles Dooher on anniversary of brutal attack

A year after being left for dead when a masked gang stormed his Lifford home, Charles Dooher says his attackers “will have to face God”.

At around 10am on January 20, 2025, a masked and armed gang set upon the 26-year-old farmer in his home at Conneyburrow Road.

He was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he underwent extensive surgeries - including having a protective plate fitted to his head. He was left with a shattered skull and a traumatic brain injury, but made what was called a “miracle recovery” after spending several weeks in intensive care.

“One year ago today if the organisers got their way I wouldn’t be here today, my surgeon said it’s one of the worst injury’s he’s ever seen from America to Ireland,” Mr Dooher said in a social media post.

“Five ‘men’ along with a so called ‘woman’ and others, organised and tried to end my life leaving me with a caved skull and in a coma. All over what ? Most will know the answer to this. 

“Only for God himself, air ambulance, surgeons, family, loved ones and all of yous that prayed for me, I’ll never be able to thank yous properly.

“I am walking proof of grace. Learning to walk and talk again along with many other things, God help the people that done this; They will all have to face God himself some day.”

Detectives upgraded their probe from aggravated burglary to attempted murder. 

Initially, two men were arrested in the Derry area and held for questioning by officers from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch before being released “pending further enquiries”.

In July, a man in his 60s was arrested in Derry while a woman, in her 50s, was arrested in Donegal and detained for several days for questioning. 

Both were released without charge as investigating Gardai prepared a file on the savage attack for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Read next: Man who conned Donegal women in fake concert and rugby ticket scam jailed

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

Several Garda units, including the Armed Response Unit, attended the scene of the attack and a major cross-border manhunt was launched as authorities on both sides of the border sought information on the gang.