Ireland Case No. 4422Attempted murder · Co. Donegal · 20 Jan 2025
Fifth arrest over attempted murder of farmer Charles Dooher in Lifford, Co. Donegal
On 20 January 2025, Charles Dooher, a 26-year-old man, and his father, a man in his 60s, were attacked by a masked gang at their home on Coneyburrow Road in Lifford, Co. Donegal, and gardaí reclassified the case as attempted murder. Earlier arrests came in late January, July and the PSNI's Derry operations, and all those detained were released without charge. On 1 December 2025 gardaí arrested a man in his 40s, who was detained in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and then released, with a file to be prepared for the DPP. As of the latest report, no one has been charged in the case.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested1 Dec
2 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Charles Dooher, a man aged 26, and his father, a man in his 60s, were attacked in Lifford.
- Gardaí reclassified the case as attempted murder.
- A five-strong gang of masked men burst into the family home and beat both men around the head and body.
- Cause
- The family said the gang was brought in to carry out a home invasion and armed robbery.
- Where
- The attack took place at Coneyburrow Road in Lifford, Co. Donegal.
- When
- The attack took place on 20 January 2025.
- Other details
- Mr Dooher lost part of his skull and was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, while his father was treated in Letterkenny.
- Investigation
- Investigators believe the two men were attacked by a Derry-based crime gang.
- In July gardaí arrested a woman in her 50s, who was later released without charge.
- The PSNI arrested two male suspects in Derry in late January and a 60-year-old man in Derry, all released without charge.
- Sources differ on the count: one describes the December arrest as the fifth in the probe, two in the Republic and three in Northern Ireland, while the Irish Mirror body text calls it the second suspect.
- A man in his 40s was arrested on Monday, 1 December 2025, in connection with the investigation.
- He was detained at a Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and has since been released.
- Gardaí asked anyone with information to contact Letterkenny Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line.
- Charges
- No one has been charged, and a file is being prepared for the Office of the DPP.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his 40s was arrested on Monday over the attack on Charles Dooher in Lifford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCharles Dooher and his father were attacked on 20 January and gardaí reclassified the case as attempted murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA five-strong gang of masked men burst into the family home and beat both men around the head and body. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe attack began as a home invasion and armed robbery and became an attempt to kill Charles Dooher Junior. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attempted murder took place in Lifford, Co. Donegal. (garda.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Coneyburrow Road. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attempted murder took place on 20 January 2025. (garda.ie)
- whenThe man was arrested on Monday, 1 December 2025. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man in connection with the investigation. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained at a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe man has since been released and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (garda.ie)
- investigationMembers of the public are asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station with any information. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigators believe the two men were attacked by a Derry-based crime gang. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThis week's arrest is the fifth in the probe, two in the Republic and three in Northern Ireland, and nobody has been charged. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe PSNI arrested two male suspects in Derry in late January and released them without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIn July gardaí arrested a woman in her 50s, who was later released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe PSNI arrested a 60-year-old man in Derry, who was released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested on 1 December 2025 and detained at a Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationHe has been released and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí made a fresh appeal for witnesses. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Dooher lost part of his skull and later made a miraculous recovery. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Dooher was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, and his father was treated in Letterkenny. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe family said the gang was brought in to carry out a home invasion and armed robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Dec2025Fifth person arrested over brutal gang murder attempt on young farmer
Fifth arrest in the investigation: a man in his 40s was arrested on 1 December 2025 and released, with a file to go to the DPP.
victim, Charles Dooher, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Charles Doohervictim, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, 40s, male - 1 Dec2025Update (3) Arrest – Serious Assault/Attempted Murder Investigation, Lifford, Co. Donegal - 20th January, 2025
Adds that the man was arrested on 1 December 2025 and detained at a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He has been released, a file is being prepared for the DPP, and gardaí appeal for information.
suspect, 40s, male