Ireland Man in his 50s arrested over attempted murder of Charles Dooher in Lifford
Charles Dooher, a man in his 20s, was critically injured when a masked gang armed with iron bars attacked him and his father at his home in Lifford, County Donegal, shortly after 10am on Monday 20 January 2025. He was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. In the days after the attack, two men were arrested in Derry and later released on bail, a 60-year-old man was arrested by the PSNI in Derry in July of last year, and a man in his 40s was arrested in the Dublin area and released without charge in November. The latest development is that a man in his 50s was arrested by gardaí on 5 April 2026 over the attempted murder, released without charge after questioning, and a file on the case has been sent to or is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Charles Dooher was critically injured in an assault at his home by a masked gang.
- Where
- The attack happened at Dooher's home in Lifford, County Donegal.
- When
- The assault happened shortly after 10am on Monday 20 January 2025.
- Other details
- Dooher's father was also at home and was attacked by the gang.
- Dooher was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast with life-threatening injuries, including a shattered skull and a traumatic brain injury.
- Weapon
- The attackers used iron bars.
- Investigation
- The incident is being treated as an attempted murder, and both gardaí and the PSNI are involved.
- In the days after the attack, two men were arrested in Derry and later released on bail.
- In July of last year, a 60-year-old man was arrested by the PSNI in Derry.
- In November, a man in his 40s was arrested in the Dublin area and released without charge.
- A man in his 50s was arrested by gardaí on 5 April 2026 and detained at a Garda station under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, and this was described as the sixth arrest in the case.
- RTE reports that a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, while DonegalLive reports that detectives are preparing a file for the DPP.
- Charges
- The man in his 50s was released without charge after questioning, so no charge has been brought against him.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his 50s was arrested and released without charge over the attempted murder of Charles Dooher. (rte.ie)
- whatDooher was critically injured in an assault at his home. (rte.ie)
- whatA gang of masked men entered the home in broad daylight and attacked Dooher and his father. (rte.ie)
- whatCharles Dooher was attacked at his home by a masked and armed gang. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Dooher's home in Lifford, County Donegal. (rte.ie)
- whereThe attack took place at Mr Dooher's home in Lifford. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assault happened shortly after 10am on Monday 20 January. (rte.ie)
- whenThe attack happened at around 10am on 20 January 2025. (donegallive.ie)
- weaponThe attackers used iron bars. (rte.ie)
- investigationA file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe incident is being treated as an attempted murder. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA man in his 50s was arrested by gardaí on 5 April 2026 and detained at a Garda station. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationDetectives released the man without charge after questioning. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationBoth gardaí and the PSNI are involved in the investigation. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationIn November, a man in his 40s was arrested in the Dublin area and released without charge. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationIn July of last year, a 60-year-old man was arrested by the PSNI in Derry. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationIn the days after the attack, two men were arrested in Derry and later released on bail. (donegallive.ie)
- otherDooher was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for treatment of life-threatening injuries. (rte.ie)
- otherMr Dooher was left with a shattered skull and a traumatic brain injury. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Apr2026Sixth arrest made over attempted murder of Charles Dooher in Lifford
Reports the arrest of a man in his 50s on 5 April 2026, his release without charge, and that a file is being prepared for the DPP. It is the sixth arrest in the case.
victim, Charles Dooher, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Charles Doohersuspect, 50s, male - 7 Apr2026Man arrested over Co Donegal attempted murder released
Adds that a man in his 50s was arrested and released without charge, that a file has gone to the DPP, and that the victim was airlifted to Belfast. The article gives the day and month only, with no year. No existing case in the list matches this incident.