Friday 30 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. 16896Criminal damage; assault causing harm; coercive control · Co. Donegal · 27 Nov 2022

Man jailed for two and a half years over Letterkenny house damage and assaults

Joseph Colhoun, a 41-year-old man originally from Lifford, caused €18,500 of damage to a rented house at Killyclug in Letterkenny, owned by his then girlfriend, Nicole McEntaggart, on 27 November 2022, while intoxicated on drink and drugs. Gardaí could not get into the property after reports of a breach of a protection order, and the Garda Armed Support Unit later found him comatose inside. He was also charged with assault causing harm and coercive control of Nicole McEntaggart, breach of a barring order, and assaults and obstruction at Letterkenny University Hospital. On 14 June 2024 he pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Letterkenny Circuit Court, and on 20 June 2024 he was jailed for two and a half years, with other sentences running concurrently; the judge noted he will be released in a couple of months.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted14 Jun
  6. Sentenced20 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Joseph Colhoun, a 41-year-old man originally from Lifford, caused €18,500 of damage to a rented house.
  • At Letterkenny University Hospital, Colhoun became aggressive, attempted to kick a garda, spat at nursing staff and headbutted another garda.
Where
The house is at Killyclug in Letterkenny and belonged to Colhoun's then girlfriend, Nicole McEntaggart.
When
The charges relate mostly to a series of incidents on 27 November 2022.
Cause
Defence counsel said Colhoun was highly intoxicated when gardaí arrived, and he wrecked the house while intoxicated on drink and drugs.
Investigation
Gardaí responding to reports of a breach of a protection order could not get into the property, and the Garda Armed Support Unit later entered and found Colhoun comatose inside.
Charges
  • Colhoun is charged with assault causing harm to Nicole McEntaggart on 27 November 2022, with coercive control of her between 1 January and 22 November 2022, and with breaching a barring order imposed on 16 November 2022.
  • Colhoun is charged with assaulting Stephen McCabe, obstructing Garda Shane Wall and assaulting nurse Veronica Dunleavy at Letterkenny University Hospital.
  • Colhoun pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Garda David Lee.
In court
On 14 June 2024 Colhoun pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Letterkenny Circuit Court, and Judge John Aylmer reserved his position and adjourned the case for finalisation by videolink until the following Wednesday.
Sentence
Colhoun was jailed for two and a half years, and the criminal damage headline sentence was reduced to two and a half years, with other sentences running concurrently.
Other details
  • Colhoun has 83 previous convictions.
  • The judge noted Colhoun will be released in a couple of months.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJoseph Colhoun, 41, pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe damage to the house was valued at €18,500. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatAt hospital Colhoun became aggressive, attempted to kick a garda, spat at nursing staff and headbutted another garda. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe damage was caused at a rented property at Killyclug in Letterkenny, belonging to Colhoun's then girlfriend, Nicole McEntaggart. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereColhoun caused €18,500 of damage to a rented house in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe house is at Killyclug in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe charges relate mostly to a series of incidents on 27 November 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeDefence counsel said Colhoun was highly intoxicated when gardaí arrived. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeColhoun wrecked the house while intoxicated on drink and drugs. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí responded to reports of a breach of a protection order but could not get into the property. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda Armed Support Unit entered the house and found Colhoun comatose. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun is charged with assault causing harm to Nicole McEntaggart on 27 November 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun is charged with coercive control of Nicole McEntaggart between 1 January and 22 November 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun is charged with breaching a barring order imposed on 16 November 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun is charged with assaulting Stephen McCabe at Letterkenny University Hospital. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Garda David Lee. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun is charged with obstructing Garda Shane Wall at Letterkenny University Hospital. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun is charged with assaulting nurse Veronica Dunleavy at Letterkenny University Hospital. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun was charged with assault causing harm to Nicole McEntaggart on 27 November 2022. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun was charged with coercive control of Nicole McEntaggart. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun was charged with assaulting Stephen McCabe at Letterkenny University Hospital. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun was charged with assaulting nurse Veronica Dunleavy at Letterkenny University Hospital. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeColhoun was charged with breaching a barring order. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJudge John Aylmer reserved his position and adjourned the case for finalisation by videolink until the following Wednesday. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtColhoun pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court to a number of charges. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe criminal damage headline sentence was reduced to two and a half years, with other sentences running concurrently. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceColhoun was jailed for two and a half years. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherColhoun has 83 previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherColhoun is originally from Lifford. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherArmed gardaí found Colhoun in a comatose state inside the property. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted Colhoun will be released in a couple of months. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Jun2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Jail for 'tinderbox' man found by armed gardai in Letterkenny house he wrecked

    Sentencing at Letterkenny Circuit Court for a November 2022 house wrecking and assaults on gardaí, a nurse and others. This is a different incident from existing case 9603 (March 2026 public order offences), so no case id is matched.

    convicted, Joseph Colhoun, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Colhounvictim, Nicole McEntaggart, female, irish (judged from name)Nicole McEntaggartvictim, Stephen McCabe, irish (judged from name)Stephen McCabevictim, David Lee, irish (judged from name)David Leevictim, Veronica Dunleavy, irish (judged from name)Veronica Dunleavyvictim, Shane Wall, irish (judged from name)Shane Wall
  2. 14 Jun2024
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, follow-up
    Man found 'comatose' by armed Gardai in Letterkenny house he trashed

    Reports the 14 June 2024 Letterkenny Circuit Court hearing where Colhoun pleaded guilty to charges and the case was adjourned for finalisation. It gives the €18,500 damage figure, the charges and the names of the victims, and states Colhoun is originally from Lifford.

    convicted, Joseph Colhoun, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Colhounvictim, Nicole McEntaggart, irish (judged from name)Nicole McEntaggartvictim, Stephen McCabe, irish (judged from name)Stephen McCabevictim, David Lee, irish (judged from name)David Leevictim, Shane Wall, irish (judged from name)Shane Wallvictim, Veronica Dunleavy, irish (judged from name)Veronica Dunleavy