Case No. 0754Dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving without insurance, driving without licence · Co. Donegal · 2 Jul 2025
Lochlainn Doherty charged over fatal two-vehicle crash in Co Donegal
A two-vehicle collision between a car and a van on the R240 at Glentogher, Carndonagh, Co Donegal, shortly before 6.30pm on 2 July 2025, killed woman Natalie McLaughlin, 27, and her daughter Ella McLaughlin, 6, and injured Tyrone Irwin, in his 30s, and Rhea Rose Irwin, 20 months. man Lochlainn Doherty, of Doaghmore, Clonmany, was arrested on Main Street, Buncrana, and charged with eight offences including two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. He appeared at Buncrana District Court on 23 June 2026, where no reply was entered and he was remanded on his own bail to Carndonagh District Court on 15 September 2026 for DPP directions. Reports differ on Doherty's age, with the Irish Times stating 18 and the Irish Mirror stating 19.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged23 Jun
3 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A two-vehicle collision between a car and a van occurred at Glentogher outside Carndonagh, Co Donegal.
- Natalie McLaughlin, 27, and her daughter Ella McLaughlin, 6, were killed, while Tyrone Irwin, in his 30s, and Rhea Rose Irwin, 20 months, were injured.
- Where
- The crash occurred on the R240 at Carrowmore, Glentogher, Carndonagh, Co Donegal.
- When
- The collision occurred shortly before 6.30pm on 2 July 2025.
- Investigation
- Lochlainn Doherty, of Doaghmore, Clonmany, was arrested on Main Street, Buncrana, by Sgt Charlene Anderson of Buncrana Garda Station.
- Charges
- Doherty was charged with eight offences including two counts of dangerous driving causing death, two counts of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, two counts of driving without insurance, and two counts of having no driving licence.
- In court
- Doherty appeared at Buncrana District Court on 23 June 2026, where no reply was entered and he was remanded on his own bail to Carndonagh District Court on 15 September 2026 for DPP directions.
- Other details
- Natalie McLaughlin was a registered nurse who had worked in a local doctor's surgery in Carndonagh since 2022.
39 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe collision was between a car and a van (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie McLaughlin and her six-year-old daughter Ella were killed in the crash (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe van driver, in his late teens, was treated at the scene for non-serious injuries (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie was initially treated at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie was transferred to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where she died (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie was in her 20s (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie worked as a nurse in a local doctor's surgery in Carndonagh (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie qualified with a BSc in Adult Nursing from Ulster University (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie began working as a Registered Nurse in 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA two-vehicle collision occurred at Glentogher outside Carndonagh (irishtimes.com)
- whatElla McLaughlin, 6, was declared dead at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- whatNatalie McLaughlin, 27, died the following day at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast (irishtimes.com)
- whatRhea, 20 months old, was injured in the crash (irishtimes.com)
- whatA two-vehicle collision occurred at Glentogher outside Carndonagh on the evening of 2 July 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatElla McLaughlin, 6, died at the scene of the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNatalie McLaughlin, 27, passed away the following day at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTyrone Irwin, in his 30s, and Rhea Rose Irwin, 20 months, were also injured in the crash. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe crash occurred on the R240 at Carrowmore, Glentogher, Carndonagh (irishmirror.ie)
- whereLochlainn Doherty appeared at Buncrana District Court (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe crash occurred shortly before 6.30pm on 2 July 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí investigations are ongoing (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDoherty was arrested on Main Street, Buncrana (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDoherty was arrested on Main Street, Buncrana, by Sgt Charlene Anderson of Buncrana Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDoherty was charged with a total of eight offences (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDoherty is charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Natalie and Ella McLaughlin (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDoherty is charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Tyrone Irwin and Rhea Irwin (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDoherty is charged with two counts of driving without insurance, one at the Isle of Doagh and one at Glentogher, Carndonagh (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDoherty is charged with having no driving licence at the Isle of Doagh and at Glentogher, Carndonagh (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDoherty is charged with two counts of driving without insurance, one at the Isle of Doagh and one at Glentogher. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDoherty is charged with having no driving licence at the Isle of Doagh and at Glentogher. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man is due before Buncrana District Court on 23 June 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThere was no objection to bail and no conditions on that bail (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused was remanded on his own bail to Carndonagh District Court on 15 September for DPP directions (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Emile Daly adjourned the case and allowed an extension of time for the preparation of a book of evidence (irishtimes.com)
- courtGarda Sgt Conor Mulkerns said there was no objection to bail and no conditions on that bail. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Emile Daly allowed an extension of time for the preparation of a book of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused sat beside his father in court and did not speak (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused's solicitor is Mr Patsy Gallagher. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDoherty sat beside his father in court and did not speak during the hearing. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jun2026Man in court over road deaths of mum and daughter
First court appearance; eight charges read, no reply, remanded on own bail to Carndonagh District Court on 15 September 2026 for DPP directions.
victim, 27, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Ella McLaughlin, 6, female, irish (judged from name)Ella McLaughlinvictim, Tyrone Irwin, 30s, male, irish (judged from name)Tyrone Irwinvictim, 20 months, female, irish (judged from name)accused, Lochlainn Doherty, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lochlainn Doherty - 23 Jun2026Man in court charged over death of mother and daughter in Co Donegal crash
First report of the charging of Lochlainn Doherty in connection with the fatal crash that killed Natalie and Ella McLaughlin and injured Tyrone Irwin and Rhea Irwin.
victim, 27, female, irish (judged from name)victim, Ella McLaughlin, 6, female, irish (judged from name)Ella McLaughlinvictim, Tyrone Irwin, 30s, male, irish (judged from name)Tyrone Irwinvictim, Rhea Irwin, 20 months, female, irish (judged from name)Rhea Irwinaccused, Lochlainn Doherty, 18, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lochlainn Doherty - 23 Jun2026Man due in court in connection with Donegal crash that killed mum and young girl
Man in his late teens charged and due before Buncrana District Court; details of the crash, victims and their backgrounds provided.
victim, Natalie McLaughlin, 20s, female, irish (judged from name)Natalie McLaughlinvictim, Ella McLaughlin, 6, female, irish (judged from name)Ella McLaughlinsuspect, late teens, male