Wednesday 28 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. 5227Public order offence; possession of offensive weapons · Co. Donegal

Five men charged over disturbance outside Co Donegal church

Five men from two families were charged with public order and weapons offences after a disturbance at the Church of the Irish Martyrs in Co Donegal. They were released on bail to await directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Aug
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe service was interrupted and parishioners were asked to remain inside the church. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe disturbance was at a church in Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident involved an alleged disturbance at the Church of the Irish Martyrs. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe argument spilled outside into the church car park. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe disturbance happened during an 11.30am Mass. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeAn argument broke out in the church porch. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe five men were charged with various offences including public order and possession of offensive weapons. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMichael McDonagh was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMichael Reilly Junior was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and had a small axe and two sharp kitchen knives in his possession. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMichael Reilly Senior was charged with possessing a slash-hook with intention to cause injury or intimidate. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThomas Reilly was charged with possessing a foldable garden saw with intention to cause injury or intimidate. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeJohn Paul Reilly was charged with possessing a foldable garden saw with intention to cause injury or intimidate. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe men appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court before Judge Ciaran Liddy. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGardaí said they had no objection to bail for Michael McDonagh. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Reilly family men were ordered to stay out of Co Donegal apart from court appearances and have no contact with the extended McDonagh family. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAll five men were released on bail to September 16th to await directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe Reilly family men were granted bail on condition that they sign on three times a week at their local Garda station and be of good behaviour. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Aug2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Five men in court over violent disturbance outside Co Donegal church

    New case: five men appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court. The article gives no exact incident date beyond 'the weekend'.

    accused, Michael McDonagh, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael McDonaghaccused, Michael Reilly Junior, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Reilly Junioraccused, Michael Reilly Senior, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Reilly Senioraccused, Thomas Reilly, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Reillyaccused, John Paul Reilly, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul Reilly