Friday 30 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. 12989Assault causing harm, endangerment · Co. Louth · 13 Jul 2024

Former Irish Army corporal Derek Donegan jailed for assault causing harm and endangerment

Derek Donegan, 39, a former corporal in the Irish Army, was sentenced to four and a half years at Dundalk Circuit Court for assault causing harm in Dublin in July 2024 and endangerment in Bellurgan in April 2021, with the final 18 months suspended subject to a good behaviour bond.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced6 Aug
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDerek Donegan is a former corporal in the Irish Army (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at an address in Dublin on 13 July 2024 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe admitted a charge of endangerment on 25 April 2021 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant rear-ended the victim's car with a van (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant initially apologised to the victim (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant drove at the victim and hit him below the knees (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim climbed onto the bonnet to avoid being run over (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatAt St. Brigid's Shrine the defendant reversed and rammed the victim's car into a ditch (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant was arrested about two hours later (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant claimed he was trying to lose the complainant so he could feel safe (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe endangerment incident occurred in Bellurgan (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe defendant drove cross country through Faughart via Thistle Cross (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtJudge Dara Hayes put back the case for finalisation so three clean urinalysis results could be produced (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceConcurrent sentences totalling four and a half years were imposed for the endangerment and assault causing harm (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceSentences were backdated to 23 May to allow for nine weeks spent in custody on the second offence (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe final 18 months were suspended on a good behaviour bond (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceConditions include 18 months of Probation Service supervision post release (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has four previous convictions (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the defendant has a drug and alcohol problem (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has not used cocaine since the assault incident (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Aug2025
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Former corporal in Irish Army seriously assaulted a woman, Dundalk court told

    Reports the sentencing of Derek Donegan at Dundalk Circuit Court, covering both the assault causing harm in Dublin (July 2024) and the endangerment in Bellurgan (April 2021) where he used his car as a weapon twice against a motorist.

    convicted, Derek Donegan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Doneganvictim, femalevictim, male