Ireland Case No. 11564Theft and criminal damage (holiday home burglaries) · Co. Donegal
Donegal man sentenced for holiday home burglaries and boat engine theft
Timmy O'Gara, a man from Doonalt, Glencolmcille, Donegal, broke into 19 holiday homes across the county between April and July 2023 after watching a TikTok video of young people entering vacant properties. He was also charged with stealing a Yamaha 2B outboard boat engine belonging to Arthur McLaughlin at Cladnageragh Pier, Kilcar, on 6 August 2024. O'Gara was convicted of the 2023 burglaries and sentenced to three years, and in January 2026 he was sentenced to a further year for five additional offences including the boat engine theft and an iPhone deception in Letterkenny. His solicitor said his release date is 2028.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court8 Aug
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced9 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Timmy O'Gara broke into 19 holiday homes across Donegal between April and July 2023 after watching a TikTok video of young people entering vacant properties.
- Where
- The burglaries took place in Cloghan, Kilcar, Glencolmcille, Inver, Carrick, Fintown, Teelin and Killybegs, Donegal.
- When
- The boat engine was allegedly stolen on 6 August 2024 at Cladnageragh Pier, Kilcar, and handled at Towney, Kilcar, on 7 August.
- Cause
- The probation report stated he broke into the properties out of boredom, curiosity and peer influence.
- Charges
- O'Gara was charged with stealing a Yamaha 2B outboard boat engine belonging to Arthur McLaughlin and with handling it the following day.
- He pleaded guilty to theft of a stag's head from Cloghan Lodge between 24 and 26 July 2023 and to deceiving a phone shop owner in Letterkenny out of an iPhone valued at €1,139.
- In court
- O'Gara appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at Letterkenny District Court on the new charges, and the case was adjourned until 9 September.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to three years for the 2023 burglaries.
- In January 2026, Judge Liddy sentenced him to one year for the iPhone theft and a further year for the boat engine theft, with all sentences to run concurrently.
- Other details
- Gardaí said €30,000 in damage was caused to one of the 19 properties, while O'Gara admitted causing hundreds of euro of damage to two holiday homes in Glencolmcille.
- His solicitor said his client's release date is 2028.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe boat engine was allegedly stolen at Cladnageragh Pier in Kilcar. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe theft of the boat engine is alleged to have happened on 6 August 2024. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThe earlier burglaries followed a TikTok video of young people breaking into vacant homes. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThe probation report heard he broke into the properties out of boredom, curiosity and peer influence. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA garda sergeant told the court there had been no directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case yet. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeO'Gara is charged with stealing a Yamaha 2B outboard boat engine, the property of Arthur McLaughlin. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeO'Gara is also charged with handling the same property at Towney, Kilcar, on 7 August. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of five further offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to theft of a stag's head from Cloghan Lodge between 24 and 26 July 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to deceiving the owner of a phone shop in Letterkenny out of an iPhone valued at €1,139. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to stealing a Yamaha 2B outboard engine at Cladnageragh Pier in Kilcar on 6 August 2024. (donegallive.ie)
- courtO'Gara appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty on the new charges. (donegallive.ie)
- courtGardaí had no objection to bail under a number of conditions, according to the solicitor for the accused. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until 9 September and legal aid was granted. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe sentencing took place at Letterkenny District Court. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceJudge Liddy sentenced him to one year for the iPhone theft and a further year for the boat engine theft, with all sentences to run concurrently. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe 23-year-old was jailed for three years earlier for burglaries committed in 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- otherHe admitted causing hundreds of euro of damage when he broke into two holiday homes in Glencolmcille. (donegallive.ie)
- otherGardaí said €30,000 in damage was caused to one of the 19 properties broken into. (donegallive.ie)
- otherHis solicitor said he had entered an early plea and was serving his sentence in prison. (donegallive.ie)
- otherHis solicitor said his client's release date is 2028. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Jan2026Donegal man who previously broke into 19 holiday homes jailed for a further year
Covers five further offences sentenced in January 2026, separate from the earlier burglary case. Mentions a previous three-year sentence for burglaries committed in 2023.
convicted, Timmy O'Gara, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Timmy O'Gara - 8 Aug2024South Donegal man up for alleged burglaries now charged with stealing boat engine
Reports new theft and handling charges over a Yamaha 2B outboard boat engine in Kilcar, separate from the earlier burglary charges against the same man.
accused, Timmy O'Gara, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Timmy O'Garavictim, Arthur McLaughlin, irish (judged from name)Arthur McLaughlin