Case adjourned of Donegal-based Garda charged with burglary and harassment

The case of a Donegal-based Garda ordered to stand trial on charges of burglary, harassment, criminal damage, assault and sending grossly offensive messages has been adjourned until June.

Alan O'Mahony, who is stationed at Letterkenny Garda Station, is to stand trial at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The case was mentioned at Letterkenny District Court before Judge Emile Daly.

Donegal state solicitor, Mr Kieran Dillon, told the court that the case had been adjourned to consider disclosure.

Mr Dillon asked for the case to be adjourned until June 2, 2026 to allow for a book of evidence to be served on Mr O'Mahony.

Mr O'Mahony was not in court for the brief hearing but was represented by his solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher.

He is currently suspended from duty as a result of the ongoing investigation.

The accused, with an address at Commons Road in Cork, faces a total of five charges.

He is charged that on June 30, 2024, at Wood Park, Lismonaghan, Letterkenny, did enter a building as a trespasser with intent to commit an arrestable offence contrary to Section 12 (1a) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Offences Act, 2001.

He is also charged that on the same date and location, he did damage property to wit, a duvet by throwing a lit cigarette on the duvet and burning it, intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

O'Mahony is also charged with assaulting Joseph O'Donnell contrary to Section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, at the same location and on the same date.

On the same date and location, the accused is charged with causing damage to the handle of the front door of the house intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

O'Mahony is further charged that on or about the same date, at or near Letterkenny, did send a grossly offensive communication, namely a photograph of a named woman to another person thereby distributing or sending with intent by doing so to cause harm contrary to Section 4 (1) (a) (ii) of the Harassment Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, 2020.

Judge Daly adjourned the case until June for the service of a book of evidence.