Thursday 29 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. 11765Threats to kill, production of a knife, criminal damage · Co. Donegal · 27 Jan 2023

Ballyshannon man jailed for holding knife to women's throats

Brian McDonagh, 24, was jailed at Donegal Circuit Court after holding a knife to the throats of two women during an incident at Lawn Park, Ballyshannon. He pleaded guilty to two counts of threats to kill, production of a knife and criminal damage to an iPhone.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted11 Dec
  6. Sentenced16 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man appeared in court charged with possessing a knife and making threats to kill two women in Ballyshannon. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcDonagh pressed a knife to the throat of one woman and said he would cut her. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcDonagh also held a knife to the throat of another woman during the same incident. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcDonagh punched and kicked one of the women. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcDonagh threw one woman's iPhone into the fireplace, damaging it. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Lawn Park, Ballyshannon. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on January 27, 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on 27 January 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenGardaí were alerted at around 1am. (donegallive.ie)
  • weaponA knife was found in the front pocket of a hoodie worn by McDonagh. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe Armed Support Unit was deployed to the scene. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationMcDonagh was arrested and taken to Ballyshannon Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcDonagh is charged with producing an article, namely a knife, capable of inflicting serious injury. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcDonagh is charged with causing criminal damage to a pink Apple iPhone 8. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcDonagh faces charges of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to two women. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcDonagh was charged with two counts of making threats to kill. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcDonagh also faced charges of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury and criminal damage to an Apple iPhone 8. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMcDonagh was before Judge John Aylmer to affirm a guilty plea entered at Ballyshannon District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtWhen asked by the court clerk whether he affirmed his plea, McDonagh replied yes. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMcDonagh entered a signed guilty plea. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceMcDonagh was remanded in custody until the following week, when he will be sentenced. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceMcDonagh was jailed for two years and four months. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to three years and four months, to run consecutively to a 20-month sentence he was already serving. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe final 12 months of the sentence were suspended. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherMcDonagh is represented by Mr Colm Smyth SC, instructed by solicitor Mr Gerry McGovern. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherMcDonagh had 35 previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherMcDonagh was on remand at the time of the offences and later fled to France before returning to hand himself in. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe victims were asked to make victim impact statements but declined. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherMcDonagh was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time, according to his barrister. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Dec2025
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Ballyshannon man who held knife to women’s throats jailed

    Sentencing report for a January 2023 incident in Ballyshannon. The article gives the sentence imposed on the accused, the aggravating and mitigating factors, and the suspended portion and probation conditions.

    convicted, Brian McDonagh, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian McDonaghvictim, femalevictim, female
  2. 11 Dec2025
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, follow-up
    Man admits having knife and making threats to kill in Ballyshannon

    Reports the guilty plea affirmed before Judge John Aylmer, the specific charges, and that McDonagh was remanded in custody pending sentence the following week.

    convicted, Brian McDonagh, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian McDonaghvictim, femalevictim, female