Ireland Case No. 7908Assault causing harm, criminal damage · Co. Donegal
Killybegs man ordered to appear in person on assault charges
James Spendley, 59, a man from Killybegs, is charged with four offences including two of assault causing harm, a threat to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage to spectacles, relating to incidents at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs, in which a man and a woman were allegedly assaulted. The alleged incidents occurred on 7 April 2023 and on a date unknown before 4 June 2024. He first appeared at Donegal District Court, held at Ballyshannon Courthouse, on 28 July 2026, and the case was adjourned repeatedly due to videolink difficulties, a pending psychiatric report, and defence solicitor strikes. On 5 November 2026, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham made a production order requiring Spendley to appear in person on 2 December for service of the book of evidence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court28 Jul
7 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- James Spendley, 59, a man from Killybegs, is charged with four offences including two of assault causing harm, a threat to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage to spectacles.
- Where
- The alleged incidents occurred at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs, and the accused lives at 46 St Cummin's Hill, Killybegs.
- When
- One alleged incident occurred on 7 April 2023 and another on a date unknown before 4 June 2024.
- Charges
- On 7 April 2023, Spendley is charged with assaulting a man causing harm and damaging a pair of spectacles.
- On a date unknown before 4 June 2024, Spendley is charged with assaulting a woman causing harm and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm.
- In court
- Spendley first appeared at Donegal District Court, held at Ballyshannon Courthouse, on 28 July 2026, and the case was adjourned repeatedly due to videolink issues, a pending psychiatric report, and defence solicitor strikes.
- On 5 November 2026, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham made a production order requiring Spendley to appear in person on 2 December for service of the book of evidence.
- Investigation
- A psychiatric report on the accused was still awaited as of the October 2026 hearing.
- Other details
- When cautioned, the accused said he did not remember anything about one of the charges.
- The accused was in custody on another matter and has consent to bail but has not been able to take it up.
62 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Killybegs man is to be served a book of evidence on four charges, including two of assault causing harm. (donegallive.ie)
- whatA Killybegs man appeared at Donegal District Court on four charges, including two of assault causing harm. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe accused is from Killybegs and lives at 46 St Cummin's Hill. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe hearing took place at Ballyshannon Courthouse. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe sitting was to take place at Ballyshannon Courthouse, with the accused appearing by videolink. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe accused's address is given as 46 St Cummin's Hill, Killybegs. (donegallive.ie)
- whereOne charge concerns an assault at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe man appeared at Ballyshannon Courthouse via video link before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham. (donegallive.ie)
- whereOne charge relates to an alleged assault at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs, on a date unknown before 4 June 2024. (donegallive.ie)
- whenOne charge relates to an alleged assault on a date unknown before 4 June 2024 at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs. (donegallive.ie)
- whenAnother charge relates to an alleged assault on 7 April 2023 at an address at Harbour View Drive. (donegallive.ie)
- whenOne set of charges relates to a date unknown before June 4, 2024, at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs. (donegallive.ie)
- whenOther charges relate to April 7, 2023, at an address at Harbour View Drive. (donegallive.ie)
- whenOne charge concerns an incident on a date unknown before 4 June 2024. (donegallive.ie)
- whenAnother charge concerns an incident on 7 April 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- whenOther charges relate to an alleged incident on 7 April 2023 at an address on Harbour View Drive. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA psychiatric report was described in court as presently ongoing. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA psychiatric report on the accused was still awaited. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeTwo of the charges are for assault causing harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOne charge alleges a threat to kill or cause serious harm, made to a person. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOne charge alleges criminal damage to spectacles. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOne charge relates to an assault causing harm, with a threat to kill or cause serious harm, on a date before June 4, 2024 at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeAnother charge relates to an assault causing harm and criminal damage to spectacles on April 7, 2023 at Harbour View Drive. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeSpendley was due to be served a book of evidence for four charges, including two of assault causing harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOne charge alleges a threat to kill or cause serious harm, made without lawful excuse, contrary to Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Against The Persons Act 1997. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOther charges allege damage to spectacles, which the accused is alleged to have caused. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOne charge alleges making a threat to kill or cause serious harm, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeAnother charge alleges criminal damage to spectacles, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1991. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOne of the charges alleges that the accused assaulted a person causing harm and damaged spectacles without lawful excuse. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOn a date prior to 4 June 2024 at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs, he assaulted a woman causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe made a threat to a person intending them to believe it would be carried out, to kill or cause her serious harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOn 7 April 2023 at Harbour View Drive, he assaulted a man causing him harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeHe damaged property, specifically spectacles, intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether it would be damaged. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOn a date unknown prior to June 4, 2024, at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs, Spendley is charged with assaulting a woman causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeSpendley is charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the woman. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeOn April 7, 2023, at Harbour View Drive, Spendley is charged with assaulting a man causing him harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeSpendley is charged with damaging a pair of spectacles on April 7, 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- courtHe appeared at Donegal District Court, held at Ballyshannon Courthouse, on four charges. (donegallive.ie)
- courtA garda sergeant told the court that directions were for prosecution and indictment. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge directed that disclosure be sent to the accused's solicitor so he could take instructions. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until 30 July at Sligo District Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Ciaran Liddy ordered the book of evidence to be served on James Spendley. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe book of evidence is to be served at the next sitting of Donegal District Court at Ballyshannon Courthouse on September 2, via videolink. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until September 2. (donegallive.ie)
- courtA videolink for a scheduled sitting at Donegal District Court could not be set up. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe accused's solicitor said no bail application had been made on the assault charges and sought a similar adjournment. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe accused was in custody on another matter and has consent to bail but has not been able to take it up. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned until September 14. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJames Spendley appeared at Donegal District Court on four charges, including two charges of assault causing harm. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJames Spendley appeared by videolink at Ballyshannon Courthouse. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned to 28 September. (donegallive.ie)
- courtDefence solicitor's representative told the court the psychiatric report was still awaited and an adjournment was sought. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe defence solicitor said he would withdraw from the case because of the ongoing criminal defence solicitor strikes. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge adjourned the case until 12 October, with consent, and ordered that the accused appear via video link. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Éiteáin Cunningham remanded Spendley in custody with his consent for 4 November and ordered him to attend via videolink. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Éiteáin Cunningham made the production order at Donegal District Court held at Ballyshannon Courthouse. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge agreed to allow an extension for the book of evidence to be served to Spendley. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe time for service of the book of evidence was extended until December 2. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said he would remand the accused on the same terms to September 14. (donegallive.ie)
- otherWhen cautioned, the accused said he did not remember anything about one of the charges. (donegallive.ie)
- otherWhen cautioned on the assault charge dated before 4 June 2024, he replied "No". (donegallive.ie)
- otherIn September the case had previously been adjourned when a psychiatric report was still awaited. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Nov2026Judge orders James Spendley to be produced at Donegal District Court
Reports that Judge Cunningham made a production order requiring Spendley to appear in person on 2 December for service of the book of evidence, with the time for service extended to that date. Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern represented Spendley.
suspect, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendleyvictim, femalevictim, male - 13 Oct2026Killybegs man attends court via video link for assault charges
Reports the 13 October 2026 hearing at Ballyshannon Courthouse where Spendley appeared via video link from Cloverhill Prison. A report was still awaited (a psychiatric report had been pending since the September adjournment). The case was adjourned to 4 November 2026 and Spendley was remanded in custody with his consent.
accused, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendleyvictim, femalevictim, male - 29 Sep2026Killybegs man appears at court via video link for assault charges
Court appearance: the charges were read and the case was adjourned to 12 October 2026 with consent. The defence solicitor said he would withdraw from the case because of the ongoing criminal defence solicitor strikes.
accused, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley - 14 Sep2026Psychiatric report still awaited for Killybegs man on assault charges
Court appearance only: the case was adjourned to 28 September 2026 pending a psychiatric report. The charges relate to incidents on different dates, one before 4 June 2024 and one on 7 April 2023.
accused, James Spendley, 59, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley - 2 Sep2026Judge adjourns Killybegs assault charges case until September 14
Original report of the 2 September 2026 adjournment at Ballyshannon Courthouse. Gives the charge dates of before 4 June 2024 and 7 April 2023, and states that the accused has consent to bail but has not taken it up.
accused, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley - 26 Aug2026Book of Evidence to be served to Killybegs man on assault charges
Court report on the judge's order for service of the Book of Evidence on James Spendley, 59, on four charges; the case was adjourned to September 2, 2026. The article gives two separate incident dates, so no single incident date is recorded.
accused, James Spendley, 59, male, namedJames Spendley - 28 Jul2026Killybegs man appears at Donegal District Court for assault charges
Court appearance of James Spendley on four charges (two assault causing harm, a threat to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage). Adjourned to Sligo District Court on 30 July, with disclosure directed to his solicitor.
accused, James Spendley, 59, male, namedJames Spendley