Case No. 20541Assault · Co. Donegal

Gardaí investigate alleged serious assault of missing man in Slieve League area, Donegal

Gardaí are investigating an alleged serious assault on a man reported missing in the Slieve League/Killybegs area of Co Donegal, which is alleged to have happened between Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June 2023. The man is from Northern Ireland and was reportedly staying with the two suspects, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, whose nationalities are not stated. The two were arrested on Sunday 25 June and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984; one report says they were released without charge with a file sent to the DPP, while a Garda release says the man has been charged. The latest development is that the man is due before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court at 4pm on Friday 14 July 2023.

  1. Reported25 Jun
  2. Arrested25 Jun
    6 reports
  3. Charged25 Jun
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí are investigating an alleged serious assault of a man reported missing in the Slieve League/Killybegs area of Co Donegal.
Where
The alleged incident took place in the Slieve League (Sliabh Liag) area near Killybegs, Co Donegal.
When
The alleged assault is reported to have taken place between Saturday 24 June and Sunday 25 June 2023.
Other details
  • The alleged victim is a man from Northern Ireland who was staying with the suspects in south-west Donegal.
  • The suspects are a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s; their nationalities are not stated.
  • Gardaí acted on a tip-off from a third party who said she had been told of an incident in which a man had been seriously injured by the pair.
Cause
It is alleged that a row broke out between the three people.
Investigation
  • The man and woman were arrested on Sunday 25 June 2023 and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Garda stations in Co Donegal.
  • A large search for the missing man began on Monday 26 June at Slieve League and resumed on Tuesday morning; the two-day search found nothing.
  • Gardaí seized a blood-splattered car, recovered forensic samples including blood from it, and had a house in the Killybegs area sealed off and searched by forensics officers.
  • Public access to Slieve League was closed during the investigation, and the preserved areas were later lifted and reopened to the public.
  • An incident room was set up at Ballyshannon Garda Station under a Senior Investigating Officer, and Gardaí appealed for witnesses and for road users' camera or dash-cam footage.
Charges
Sources disagree on charges: one report says the two people arrested were released without charge and a file was sent to the DPP, while a Garda press release says the man has been charged.
In court
  • A warrant to examine the car was granted at Letterkenny District Court.
  • The man is due to appear before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court at 4pm on Friday 14 July 2023.
67 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAn assault is alleged to have occurred at Slieve League. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí are investigating an alleged assault. (garda.ie)
  • whatAn alleged assault is under investigation in the Sliabh Liag/Killybegs area of Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí are investigating an alleged serious assault of a person in the Slieve League/Killybegs area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo suspects were arrested for the alleged serious assault of a missing person in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe missing man is from Northern Ireland and was staying with the suspects in south-west Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred in the Slieve League / Killybegs area in County Donegal. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred in the Slieve League / Killybegs area of Co. Donegal. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assault reportedly took place in the Slieve League/Killybegs area of County Donegal. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assault is reported to have occurred in the Slieve League/Killybegs area of County Donegal. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assault took place at Sliabh Liag. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe alleged assault took place in Co Donegal. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident occurred in the Sliabh Liag/Killybegs area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search for a missing person is taking place at Slieve League in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereA large search was launched in the Slieve League area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred between Saturday 24 June and Sunday 25 June 2023. (garda.ie, donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe alleged assault reportedly took place between Saturday 24 June 2023 and Sunday 25 June 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe alleged assault is reported to have occurred between Saturday 24 June and Sunday 25 June 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident occurred between Saturday 24 June and Sunday 25 June 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe suspects were arrested on the Sunday before the report. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeIt is alleged that a row broke out between the three people. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí in Ballyshannon are investigating the incident. (garda.ie)
  • investigationPublic access to Slieve League remains closed to facilitate the investigation. (garda.ie, donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone with information about the incident. (garda.ie)
  • investigationRoad users who were near Slieve League at the time are asked to provide any camera or dash cam footage. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing and further updates will follow. (garda.ie)
  • investigationTwo people, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, have been arrested. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe two arrested people are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Garda stations in Co. Donegal. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí in Ballyshannon are appealing for witnesses. (garda.ie)
  • investigationRoad users who were near Slieve League during the incident period are asked to provide any camera or dash cam footage. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested the day before the press release as part of an ongoing investigation. (garda.ie)
  • investigationAreas in Slieve League preserved for the investigation have been lifted and reopened to the public. (garda.ie)
  • investigationAn incident room has been set up at Ballyshannon Garda Station under a Senior Investigating Officer. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone in the Killybegs/Slieve League area at the relevant times who saw activity that drew their attention to come forward. (garda.ie)
  • investigationRoad users in the area at the relevant times with camera footage, including dash-cam, are asked to give it to Gardaí. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGarda forensics searched the house, and uniformed officers remained at the scene. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí in Ballyshannon appealed for witnesses to the incident in the Sliabh Liag / Killybegs area. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí asked road users with camera or dash cam footage from the area to contact them. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationTwo people were arrested. (extra.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses to the alleged assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s have been arrested in connection with the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí asked road users with camera or dash cam footage from the area to come forward. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are examining a blood-splattered car as part of an investigation into a suspected missing person in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have recovered forensic samples from the car, including blood. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA house in the Killybegs area has been sealed off since Monday, and forensics officers are searching it. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe two people are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Garda stations in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized a blood-splattered car as part of the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí recovered forensic samples from the car, including blood. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe extensive search over two days found nothing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationIt is understood the pair were released without charge and a file was sent to the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeTwo people arrested in connection with the investigation were released without charge. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe man has been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeTwo people were arrested and are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHe is due to appear before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court at 4:00pm on Friday 14 July 2023. (garda.ie)
  • courtA warrant to examine the car was granted at Letterkenny District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAnyone with information is asked to contact Ballyshannon Garda Station on 071 985 8530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. (garda.ie)
  • otherA major search operation resumed on Tuesday morning after a man was reported missing on Monday. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherBoth suspects are being detained at a garda station in Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoth suspects are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPublic access to Sliabh Liag remains closed while the investigation continues. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTwo people were arrested and remain in Garda custody. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherIt is understood the car belongs to one of the two people who were arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man's detention was extended after he complained of not feeling well and was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí are appealing to anyone with information about the alleged assault to contact them. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe suspects were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Garda stations in Co Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jun2023
    Gardaí still baffled by Donegal mystery assault as they interview two suspects

    Original report of the arrests, search and forensic examination. The update adds that the pair were understood to have been released without charge and a file sent to the DPP.

    victim, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  2. 27 Jun2023
    Gardai examine blood-splattered car in Donegal alleged assault investigation

    First report of the case: an alleged serious assault in the Slieve League/Killybegs area, a missing person search, the arrest of a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, and forensic examination of a car and a sealed house.

    victimsuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  3. 27 Jun2023
    Two arrested as access to Sliabh Liag remains closed after alleged assault

    First report of the case. Adds the arrest of a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, their detention under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, and the closure of public access to Sliabh Liag.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  4. 27 Jun2023
    Two Arrested After Alleged Assault In Co Donegal

    Only the headline has news content; the body is unrendered template code with no names, date, place or details of the incident.

    suspectsuspect
  5. 27 Jun2023
    Two arrested over alleged assault at Sliabh Liag

    Reports two arrests under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, the sealing off of a house in Killybegs, the closure of public access to Slieve League, and a Garda appeal for information about an incident between 24 and 25 June 2023.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  6. 25 Jun2023
    Renewed Appeal - Alleged Assault in Slieve League, County Donegal, 24th/25th June 2023

    Renewed garda appeal, issued 2 July 2023. Adds that the preserved areas at Slieve League have been lifted and reopened, that an incident room is established at Ballyshannon Garda Station under a Senior Investigating Officer, and that road users with camera footage are asked to come forward. No victim, suspect, arrest or charge is named.

  7. 25 Jun2023
    Court Appearance - Alleged Assault in Slieve League, Co. Donegal, 24th/25th June 2023.

    Garda press release announcing the charge and court date. It does not name the man or describe the alleged victim.

    accused, 30s, male
  8. 25 Jun2023
    Witness Appeal: Alleged Assault in Slieve League, Co. Donegal, 24th/25th June 2023.

    Garda appeal for witnesses and dash cam footage, issued 27 June 2023. Two arrests are reported, with no names given. The incident date is given only as a range, 24 to 25 June 2023. No existing case matches this incident.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  9. 25 Jun2023
    Update - Alleged Assault in Slieve League, Co. Donegal, 24th/25th June 2023

    Update from Gardaí: two people arrested over the incident were released without charge. Public access to Slieve League remains closed, and Gardaí are appealing for information and for road users' camera or dash cam footage.

    suspectsuspect