Sunday 1 November 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. 9545Theft, assault, criminal damage, public order offences · Co. Donegal

Man convicted of theft, assault and public order offences in Ballyshannon

John Higgins, 57, pleaded guilty at Ballyshannon District Court on 15 May 2026 to charges of stealing €28 of groceries, assaulting Rossa McCosker, and causing €358.80 of criminal damage to potted plants at a Centra store on Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon, in June 2019. He also admitted to multiple public order offences, including intoxication and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at locations in Ballyshannon and Bundoran between May and July 2019. Judge Éiteáin Cunningham ordered a probation and welfare report and a community service suitability report, and adjourned the case to 18 September. At a later hearing, Judge Ciaran Liddy was told by defence solicitor Maura Coyle that the probation report was outstanding and would not be ready before January, and the matters were adjourned to 15 January 2027.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Higgins is charged with stealing groceries valued at €28 from Centra, Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon, on 1 June 2019.
  • Higgins is charged with assaulting Rossa McCosker at Centra, Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon, on 2 June 2019.
  • Higgins is charged with criminal damage to four shelves of potted plants valued at €358.80 at Centra, Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon, on 2 June 2019.
  • Higgins is charged with multiple public order offences, including intoxication and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at Portnason, Ballyshannon (9 May 2019), Main Street, Bundoran (18 May, 25 May and 17 June 2019), SuperValu, Bundoran (6 July 2019), and Westport, Ballyshannon (9 July 2019).
Charges
The assault charge is contrary to Section 2 of the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997; the criminal damage charge is contrary to Section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991; the theft charge is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
In court
  • John Higgins, 57, pleaded guilty to all offences before Ballyshannon District Court on 15 May 2026.
  • Judge Éiteáin Cunningham ordered a probation and welfare report and a report on suitability for community service, and adjourned the case to 18 September.
  • At a subsequent hearing, Judge Ciaran Liddy was told by defence solicitor Maura Coyle that the probation report was outstanding and would not be ready before January, and adjourned the matters to 15 January 2027.
Other details
Legal aid was granted and assigned to the defendant's solicitor.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHiggins stole groceries valued at €28 from a Centra store on Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon, on June 1, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatHiggins is charged with assaulting Rossa McCosker at Centra, Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon on 2 June 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatHiggins is charged with criminal damage to four shelves of potted plants valued at €358.80, the property of Rossa McCosker, Centra, on 2 June 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatHiggins is charged with stealing groceries valued at €28, the property of Rossa McCosker, Centra, Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon, on 1 June 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with assaulting Rossa McCosker at Centra, Assaroe Road, Ballyshannon, on June 2, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with criminal damage to shelves of potted plants valued at €358.80 at the same Centra store. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe admitted being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself or others, and with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at Portnason, Ballyshannon, on May 9, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to three further public order counts on Main Street, Bundoran, on May 18, May 25 and June 17, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe admitted threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at the Super Valu in Bundoran on July 6, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe admitted being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself or others at Westport, Ballyshannon, on July 9, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe assault charge is contrary to Section 2 of the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe criminal damage charge is contrary to Section 2(1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe theft charge is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHiggins previously admitted to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at SuperValu, Bundoran on 6 July 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHiggins previously admitted to being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself or others at Westport, Ballyshannon on 9 July 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJohn Higgins, 57, of 3 Brighton Terrace, appeared before Ballyshannon District Court on Friday, May 15. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty to all offences before the court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge directed a probation and welfare report on all matters and a report on suitability for community service. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to September 18. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe probation report for John Higgins is outstanding and will not be ready before January 2027. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJudge Ciaran Liddy heard the case at Ballyshannon District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMaura Coyle is the defence solicitor representing John Higgins. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtA probation report was previously ordered by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at a May sitting of Ballyshannon District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJudge Liddy adjourned the matters until 15 January 2027. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherLegal aid was granted and assigned to the defendant's solicitor. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Oct2026
    In courtdonegallive.ie, follow-up
    ‘Outstanding’ probation report in case involving Ballyshannon assault

    Case adjourned to 15 January 2027 pending a probation report. Article provides full detail of all charges including statutory sections, specific dates and locations, and confirms Higgins has previously admitted to all charges. Defence solicitor Maura Coyle and Judge Ciaran Liddy identified.

    victim, Rossa McCosker, irish (judged from name)Rossa McCoskeraccused, John Higgins, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Higgins
  2. 18 May2026
    In courtdonegallive.ie, first report
    Man admits theft, assault, criminal damage and public order offences in Donegal

    Court report of a guilty plea by John Higgins to multiple offences at Ballyshannon District Court, with a probation report ordered and the case adjourned to September 18. The article gives 2019 offence dates, which conflict with the 2026 publication date.

    accused, John Higgins, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Higginsvictim, Rossa McCosker, irish (judged from name)Rossa McCosker