Ireland Letterkenny assault accused complains of sentencing delay
Seamus Cooley, a 50-year-old man, is charged with assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid, a young woman, and causing her harm at Castle Street, Letterkenny, on October 15, 2017. He was remanded in custody in June after breaching bail conditions at Cavan Circuit Court, and in July he tendered a guilty plea and a bail application was refused. He has not yet been sentenced. At Letterkenny Circuit Court on February 4, 2026, he appeared by video link from Castlerea Prison, complained about the delay, and was due to undergo a psychiatric assessment the following week, after which he was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted4 Feb
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man awaiting sentencing has complained about a further delay in his assault case.
- Where
- The assault is alleged to have happened at Castle Street, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
- When
- The assault is alleged to have happened on October 15, 2017.
- Charges
- Seamus Cooley is charged with assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid and causing her harm.
- Other details
- Cooley is a 50-year-old man, and the victim is a young woman.
- Cooley was remanded in custody in June after breaching bail conditions at Cavan Circuit Court.
- Cooley told the court he had been awaiting the assessment for seven months and said the delay was 'getting beyond a joke'.
- The victim returned from Australia for three weeks during the October 2025 sitting.
- In court
- Cooley appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court by video link from Castlerea Prison, where he is in custody.
- Cooley tendered a guilty plea in July, and a bail application was refused.
- Counsel said Cooley is due to undergo a psychiatric assessment the following week.
- The judge said the Circuit Court sits every quarter and cannot set a sentencing date just to wait for a report.
- Cooley was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- No sentence has been imposed, and sentencing is pending.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man awaiting sentencing has complained about a further delay in his assault case. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe assault is alleged to have happened at Castle Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assault is alleged to have happened on October 15, 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeCooley is charged with assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid and causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court by video link from Castlerea Prison. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley is due to undergo a psychiatric assessment the following week. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley tendered a guilty plea in July, and a bail application was refused. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge said the Circuit Court sits every quarter and cannot set a sentencing date just to wait for a report. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley is in custody. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley was remanded in custody last June after breaching bail conditions at Cavan Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe victim returned from Australia for three weeks during the October 2025 sitting. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Feb2026Letterkenny assault accused tells court sentencing delay 'getting beyond a joke'
Court report on a guilty plea and pending sentencing for an assault dating from 2017; the accused is in custody, a psychiatric assessment and report are awaited, and the case was remanded to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court. No existing case matches.
convicted, Seamus Cooley, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaid