Ireland Hugh McDaid dies after assault and baton strike at Milford dance, 1975
Hugh 'Boogie' McDaid, a 21-year-old man from Ramelton, died on 6 March 1975 after he was killed on the night of his 21st birthday at a dance in Milford, County Donegal. He was assaulted earlier that night by three young men, and a Garda struck him on the head with a baton while intervening in an altercation; the official cause of death was pulmonary aspiration caused by brain swelling from a skull fracture. The three young men were brought before the District Court on assault charges and given suspended sentences, and the judge said the Garda acted in a proper and efficient manner. The latest development is the 2025 family feature marking the 50th anniversary of his death on 6 March, with a mass planned for 1 March 2025, and no new charges or investigation are reported.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Hugh 'Boogie' McDaid, a 21-year-old man, died on 6 March 1975.
- Where
- Hugh was from Ramelton, County Donegal.
- Hugh was at a dance in Milford, County Donegal.
- When
- Hugh turned 21 on 5 March 1975 and was killed on the night of his birthday.
- Cause
- Hugh was assaulted earlier in the night by three young men.
- The official cause of death was pulmonary aspiration, due to brain swelling caused by a skull fracture.
- Weapon
- A Garda struck Hugh on the head with a baton while intervening in an altercation.
- Charges
- The three young men were brought before the District Court on assault charges.
- In court
- The judge said the Garda acted in a proper and efficient manner.
- Hugh's father was threatened with a contempt charge after an outburst in court.
- Sentence
- The three young men were given suspended sentences.
- Other details
- The McDaid family were asked to sign waivers that they could never take action against the State over Hugh's death.
- A family feature published on 25 February 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of his death, with a mass planned for 1 March 2025.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHugh was the subject of a 50th anniversary of his death on 6 March. (donegallive.ie)
- whereHugh was from Ramelton. (donegallive.ie)
- whereHugh was at a dance in Milford on his birthday. (donegallive.ie)
- whenHugh turned 21 on 5 March 1975. (donegallive.ie)
- whenHugh was killed on the night of his 21st birthday. (donegallive.ie)
- causeHugh was assaulted earlier in the night by three young men. (donegallive.ie)
- causeHugh was struck on the head with a baton by a Garda intervening in an altercation. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThe official cause of death was pulmonary aspiration. (donegallive.ie)
- causeThe pulmonary aspiration was due to brain swelling caused by a skull fracture. (donegallive.ie)
- weaponA Garda struck Hugh on the head with a baton. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe three young men were brought before the District court on assault charges. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge said the Garda acted in a proper and efficient manner. (donegallive.ie)
- courtHugh's father was threatened with a contempt charge after his outburst in court. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe three young men were given suspended sentences. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe McDaid family were asked to sign waivers that they could never take action against the State over Hugh's death. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Feb2025Hugh Boogie McDaid's 50th anniversary: Ramelton man killed on 21st birthday night
Retrospective family feature marking the 50th anniversary of a 1975 death; it adds the family's account, the court outcome for the earlier assault, and the waivers, but reports no new charges or investigation.
victim, Hugh 'Boogie' McDaid, 21, male, irish (judged from name)Hugh 'Boogie' McDaidconvicted, maleconvicted, maleconvicted, male