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. 4750Manslaughter · Co. Donegal · 12 Apr 2022

Geunter Lohse pleads guilty to manslaughter of mother in Doochary, Co Donegal fire

Geunter Lohse (63) pleaded guilty to manslaughter of his 88-year-old mother, Ruth Lohse, who died from inhaling fumes after fires were lit at their home in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal. He is due to be sentenced on 11 November, and counsel said he intends to return to Germany after his sentence and give an undertaking not to return to Ireland.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted4 Nov
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGeunter Lohse killed his 88-year-old mother by setting fire to her home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe fatal fire was at the house Lohse and his mother shared in Coolvoy, Doochary, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing took place on April 12th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThree fires were lit in the house using matches, with no accelerant used. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA postmortem showed the victim died from inhaling fumes. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí found the victim seated in an armchair in the sittingroom when firefighters arrived. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeLohse was originally charged with murder, but the State accepted a plea to manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtLohse pleaded guilty earlier this year to unlawfully killing his mother Ruth Lohse by arson. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge adjourned sentencing to November 11th and remanded Lohse in custody until then. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defendant had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe probation report placed Lohse at a moderate risk of reoffending. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLohse intends to return to Germany at the end of his sentence. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Nov2024
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who killed his mother by setting fire to home will return to Germany after sentence, court told

    Reports the guilty plea to manslaughter (originally charged with murder), mitigation including probation and psychiatric reports, and the adjournment to 11 November for sentencing.

    convicted, Geunter Lohse, 63, male, namedGeunter Lohsevictim, Ruth Lohse, 88, femaleRuth Lohse