Wednesday 28 October 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. 5165Burglary and theft · Co. Donegal

Man jailed for a year over Donegal church burglaries and thefts

Nathan Coughlan, a 28-year-old man, broke into five churches, parochial houses and pastoral centres in Co Donegal, and also committed thefts at hotels, supermarkets and service stations, with charges dating from 2019 and offences from June 2023 to July 2024. He had been in custody for about a month when he pleaded guilty at Letterkenny District Court to theft charges. On August 30th, 2024, Judge Ciran Liddy sentenced him to 12 months in prison for each of three offences, to run concurrently and be backdated to when he went into custody.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Aug
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Coughlan broke into five churches, parochial houses and pastoral centres in Co Donegal.
When
Charges read out in court go back as far as 2019.
Where
The offences took place in Donegal at churches in Bocan, Stranorlar, Bundoran and Ballybofey, a Lidl in Ballybofey, and hotels and a bill payment in Letterkenny.
Cause
Coughlan said his offending resulted from addiction that began with drinking and progressed to cocaine.
Other details
  • When charged, Coughlan told gardaí, "Sorry, I have a drug problem."
  • Coughlan has 123 previous convictions dating back to 2014 and is the father of three children.
Investigation
A hard drive stolen from St Mary's Church in Stranorlar was thrown into the River Finn and later found by Detective Feely.
Charges
  • Coughlan is charged with burglary at St Mary's Church in Bocan, Culdaff on June 18th, 2023, where he took keys to a safe and stole €800 that was never recovered.
  • Coughlan is charged with stealing €300 from donation boxes at Star of the Sea Church in Bundoran on June 14th, 2024.
  • Coughlan admitted entering the parish hall of St Mary's Church in Stranorlar on July 13th and stealing a key.
  • On July 14th, Coughlan entered a staff room at Lidl in Ballybofey through secure doors and stole bank cards, driving licences and other property.
  • Coughlan is charged with stealing a bank card at Thorndale, Letterkenny on June 3rd, 2024, and using it to pay a €451.25 bill at Dillon's Hotel in Letterkenny.
In court
Coughlan pleaded guilty at Letterkenny District Court to theft charges at hotels, supermarkets, service stations and churches, and his solicitor said he admitted all charges.
Sentence
  • Judge Ciran Liddy sentenced Coughlan to 12 months for each of three offences, to run concurrently, with other charges taken into consideration.
  • The sentence was backdated to when Coughlan went into custody.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man broke into five different churches, parochial houses and pastoral centres in Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeCoughlan said his actions were the result of addiction, which began with drinking and progressed to cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA computer hard drive stolen from St Mary's Church in Stranorlar was later thrown into the nearby river Finn and found by Detective Feely. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCoughlan is charged with burglary at St Mary's Church in Bocan, Culdaff on June 18th, 2023, where he took keys to a safe and stole €800 that was never recovered. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCoughlan is charged with stealing €300 from donation boxes at Star of the Sea Church in Bundoran on June 14th, 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCoughlan admitted entering the parish hall of St Mary's Church in Stranorlar on July 13th and stealing a key. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeOn July 14th, Coughlan entered a staff room at Lidl in Ballybofey through secure doors and stole bank cards, driving licences and other property. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCoughlan is charged with stealing a bank card at Thorndale, Letterkenny on June 3rd, 2024, and using it to pay a bill of €451.25 at Dillon's Hotel in Letterkenny. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtNathan Coughlan pleaded guilty at Letterkenny District Court to theft charges at hotels, supermarkets, service stations and churches. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCoughlan's solicitor said he admitted all charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Ciran Liddy sentenced Coughlan to 12 months in prison for each of three offences, with the sentences running concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceOther charges were taken into consideration and the sentence was backdated to when Coughlan went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCoughlan told gardaí when charged that he had a drug problem. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCoughlan has 123 previous convictions dating back to 2014. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Aug2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who broke into five different Donegal churches jailed for year

    First report of the case: sentencing of Nathan Coughlan at Letterkenny District Court, with details of the individual church, hotel, Lidl and bank card charges.

    convicted, Nathan Coughlan, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Nathan Coughlan