Thursday 29 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. 10020Theft · Co. Donegal · 1 Dec 2024

Man must pay €1,000 to RNLI to avoid jail over Donegal Town thefts

Paul McCann, 24, of Omagh, Tyrone, pleaded guilty to stealing a lifebuoy at Donegal Bay Waterbus in Donegal Town on December 1, 2024, and to stealing a Samsung S24 Ultra phone at Apache Pizza in the town. He also pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself or others on Quay Street, Donegal Town, on November 15, 2025. Both theft charges were brought under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, and at Ballyshannon District Court on April 17 he had the charges dealt with in that court and a conviction was recorded. The latest development is that the judge adjourned sentencing to July 17 to give McCann time to pay €1,000 to the RNLI, which she said was not a way to avoid a conviction.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted19 Apr
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Paul McCann, 24, of Omagh, Tyrone, appeared before Ballyshannon District Court.
  • McCann pleaded guilty to theft of a lifebuoy at Donegal Bay Waterbus, Donegal Town.
  • McCann admitted theft of a Samsung S24 Ultra mobile phone at Apache Pizza, Donegal Town.
Other details
  • McCann pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself or others on Quay Street, Donegal Town, on November 15, 2025.
  • The judge said McCann's drunken conduct in front of his friends was not acceptable, and McCann has no previous convictions.
When
The lifebuoy theft took place on December 1, 2024.
Where
The offences took place on nights out in Donegal Town.
Charges
Both theft offences are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
In court
  • McCann chose to have the theft charges dealt with in the district court, where a guilty plea was recorded and a conviction was recorded by the judge.
  • The case was adjourned to April 17 so a probation and welfare report could be prepared.
  • Judge Éiteáin Cunningham adjourned sentencing to July 17 to allow McCann time to pay the RNLI.
Sentence
  • Sources differ on the sentence under consideration: one says the judge was seriously considering a suspended sentence and the other says a custodial sentence, despite McCann having no previous convictions.
  • The judge ordered McCann to pay €1,000 to the RNLI, stating this was not a way to avoid a conviction.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPaul McCann, 24, was before Ballyshannon District Court on April 17. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcCann had pleaded guilty to theft of a lifebuoy at Donegal Bay Waterbus, Donegal Town. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcCann admitted theft of a Samsung S24 Ultra mobile phone at Apache Pizza in Donegal Town. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcCann pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to the extent of being a danger to himself or others at Quay Street, Donegal Town, on November 15, 2025. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe lifebuoy theft took place on December 1, 2024. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeBoth theft offences are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMcCann chose to have the theft charges dealt with in the district court and recorded a guilty plea. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMatters were adjourned to April 17 so a probation and welfare report could be prepared. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to July 17 to allow McCann time to pay the RNLI. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said she was seriously considering a suspended sentence despite McCann having no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered McCann to pay €1,000 to the RNLI, stating this was not a way to avoid a conviction. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Apr2026
    Convicteddonegallive.ie, first report
    Donegal judge says man must give €1,000 to RNLI to avoid jail for lifebuoy theft

    First report of the Ballyshannon District Court hearing: the judge recorded a conviction, adjourned sentencing to July 17, and set a €1,000 RNLI payment as a condition of avoiding a custodial sentence.

    convicted, Paul McCann, 24, named, irish (judged from name)Paul McCannvictim