Man caught stealing in Letterkenny hours after release from prison

A man who stole an ice cream from a Letterkenny shop was also found in possession of a stolen tablet – just hours after being released from prison.

Seamus Donaghey was before Buncrana District Court arising out of matters on August 17, 2023.

Gardai received a call at 8.55pm on the day in question. The defendant had stolen an ice cream from Clarke's Newsagents at Lower Main Street.

When gardai arrived, Donaghey, now aged 31 and of no fixed abode, was unsteady on his feet and using profanities.

Donaghey was arrested under the Public Order Act and conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station. He was searched on arrival at the garda station and a tablet worth €150 was located. This was identified as belonging to an adjacent takeaway.

The tablet was subsequently returned to the takeaway.

Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for Donaghey, said his client is currently serving a sentence in Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland. He said Donaghey had issues with alcohol and apologised for the incident.

Donaghey was fined €100 and given six months to pay with legal aid granted to Mr Gallagher.

On August 17 last, Donaghey was released from prison having spent two months in custody after being caught in Donegal in a car that was hijacked in Derry.

Donaghey and a co-accused - Bridget Mongan, 33, of Foyle Road in Derry - were arrested on the N13 road at Raymoghey, Manorcunningham on June 16 at a checkpoint set up as part of a large policing operation around the Donegal International Rally.

Donaghey was charged with unlawfully using a vehicle without the consent of the owner.

The PSNI received a report of the unlawful taking of a vehicle, a black Ford Focus, from Abercorn Road on June 16.

At 11.09pm on the same date, the vehicle was observed at Raymoghey. Gardai arrested both Donaghey and Mongan.

It was alleged that a call was made to a takeaway delivery person in Derry. When the person came to the appointed address to deliver the food, they arrived at a derelict address and the vehicle was forcibly seized.