Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 15257Theft · Co. Donegal · 1 Dec 2024

Appeal for witnesses to theft from Donegal Bay Waterbus

At about 1.15am on Sunday 1 December 2024, a man boarded the Donegal Bay Waterbus in Donegal Town, County Donegal, removed a life buoy and left the vessel with it. The man is described as possibly in his late 20s or early 30s with brown hair, and his name and nationality are not given. The life buoy was found discarded the following day in a nearby carpark and is still fit for use, and no arrest or charge has been reported. On 10 December 2024 gardaí appealed for witnesses, dash-cam footage from 1am to 1.30am on 1 December, and contact from anyone who saw the man in the Quay Street area or its carparks.

  1. Reported10 Dec
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man boarded the Donegal Bay Waterbus and removed a life buoy.
  • The man then left the Waterbus with the life buoy.
Where
The incident took place on the Donegal Bay Waterbus in Donegal Town, County Donegal.
When
It happened at about 1.15am on Sunday 1 December 2024.
Other details
  • The man is described as a man who was possibly in his late 20s or early 30s with brown hair.
  • He was wearing a white or light-coloured shirt, a navy bodywarmer, blue jeans and brown shoes.
  • No arrest or charge has been reported.
Investigation
  • The life buoy was found discarded the following day in a nearby carpark and is still fit for use.
  • Gardaí asked anyone who travelled in the Quay Street area or its carparks and saw the man to make contact.
  • Anyone with dash-cam footage from 1am to 1.30am on 1 December is asked to make it available to gardaí, and can call Ballyshannon gardaí on 071 9858530.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man got onto the Waterbus and removed a life buoy. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe man then left the Waterbus with the life buoy. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened in the early hours of Sunday 1 December 2024, at about 1.15am. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe life buoy was found discarded the following day in the nearby carpark and is still fit for use. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí appeal to anyone who may have travelled in the area of Quay Street or its carparks and seen the man to make contact. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with dash-cam footage from 1am to 1.30am on 1 December is asked to make it available to gardaí. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationAnyone who can help is asked to contact gardaí in Ballyshannon on 071 9858530. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe man was wearing a white or light-coloured shirt, a navy bodywarmer, blue jeans and brown shoes. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe man had brown hair and was possibly in his late 20s or early 30s. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Dec2024
    Reporteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Appeal for witnesses to theft from Donegal Bay Waterbus

    First report of the incident. Adds the suspect's clothing and hair description, the approximate age estimate, the recovery of the life buoy in a nearby carpark, and the appeal for dash-cam footage and contact details.

    suspect, late 20s or early 30s, male