Ireland Case No. 1352Assault causing harm · Co. Donegal · 15 Oct 2017
Man sentenced to four years for assault causing harm in Letterkenny
In the early hours of 15 October 2017, Seamus Cooley, a 50-year-old quantity surveyor (reports differ: 51), repeatedly punched 18-year-old woman Shanan Reid McDaid in the face on Castle Street, Letterkenny, causing a suspected broken nose, chipped teeth and a cut to the head. Cooley was identified from CCTV and charged with assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court in July 2025 after his bail was revoked in June 2025 for breaching signing-on conditions, and was remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison. Sentencing was adjourned several times to await a psychiatric report, and Cooley complained of the delays. In May 2026, Judge John Aylmer sentenced Cooley to four years in prison, with credit for time in custody, after a headline sentence of four and a half years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 Jan
6 reports - Convicted9 Jul
3 reports - Sentenced22 May
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Seamus Cooley repeatedly punched Shanan Reid McDaid in the face in a random, unprovoked assault.
- Where
- The assault took place on Castle Street, Letterkenny, Donegal.
- When
- The assault occurred in the early hours of 15 October 2017.
- Weapon
- Cooley struck the victim in the face with a closed fist.
- Cause
- The victim's injuries included a suspected broken nose, two chipped teeth, a cut to the side of the head, a sore jaw, and swelling and bruising to her face.
- Investigation
- CCTV was collected and gardaí identified Cooley from it, and blood matching the victim's profile was found on a jacket at Cooley's home after a search.
- Charges
- Cooley was charged with unlawfully assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid causing her harm, contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
- In court
- Cooley pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court in July 2025 after his bail was revoked in June 2025 for breaching signing-on conditions, and was remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison.
- Sentencing was adjourned multiple times to await a psychiatric report on the accused, and Cooley complained of the delays.
- Sentence
- Judge John Aylmer sentenced Cooley to four years in prison in May 2026, with credit for time in custody, after a headline sentence of four and a half years.
- Other details
- Cooley has 13 prior convictions, including 10 for public order matters and one for aggravated assault from Northern Ireland.
- The victim, who lives in Australia, reported suffering from PTSD and panic attacks following the attack.
109 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSeamus Cooley pleaded guilty to assaulting Shanan Reid-McDaid. (donegallive.ie)
- whatCooley is 50 years old and a quantity surveyor (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAt the time of the assault, Ms Reid McDaid was 18 and a third level student (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man awaiting sentencing has complained about a further delay in his assault case. (donegallive.ie)
- whatCooley repeatedly punched the victim in the face in a random assault. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe victim estimated she was struck eight to 10 times. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe victim's injuries included a suspected broken nose, two chipped teeth and a cut to the side of the head. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe victim sustained a suspected broken nose, two chipped teeth, a cut to the side of the head, a sore jaw, and swelling and bruising to her face. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged assault took place at Castle Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe assault took place on Castle Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe assault occurred at Castle Street in Letterkenny (irishmirror.ie)
- whereCooley is originally from Buncrana (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at Castle Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe assault is alleged to have happened at Castle Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe attack happened on Castle Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe attack took place in Castle Street, Letterkenny. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged assault took place on 15 October 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe alleged offence took place on 15 October 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe alleged assault took place on October 15, 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on 15 October 2017. (donegallive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on October 15, 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred on 15 October 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assault is alleged to have happened on October 15, 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe attack happened in the early hours of October 15, 2017. (donegallive.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred in the early hours of 15 October 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe application to revoke bail followed a failure to sign on at a garda station as required. (donegallive.ie)
- weaponCooley struck the victim in the face with a closed fist. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationA previous application to revoke bail was made and bail conditions were amended the previous November. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationCCTV was collected and gardaí identified Cooley from it. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationBlood matching the victim's profile was found on a jacket at Cooley's home after a search. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeCooley is charged with unlawfully assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid causing her harm on 15 October 2017 at Castle Street, Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeThe offence is contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeSeamus Cooley is charged with assaulting a teenage girl, Shanan Reid McDaid, and causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeSeamus Cooley is charged with assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid and causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeCooley is charged with assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid and causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeCooley was charged with assaulting Ms Reid McDaid and causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeCooley pleaded guilty to assaulting Shanan Reid McDaid and causing her harm (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeCooley was charged with assaulting the woman and causing her harm. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley's legal team came off record before the arraignment. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge John Aylmer adjourned the case until the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge told Cooley to get a legal team in the next week to allow them to prepare. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge said he was anxious to proceed and would not adjourn again for the sake of a legal team. (donegallive.ie)
- courtShanan Reid McDaid was present in court for the short hearing. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley was due to be arraigned at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe accused appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe accused was representing himself and sought a pre-trial hearing to address 36 or 37 matters. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe court was told the accused had instructed at least four different legal teams. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge John Aylmer said matters cannot be perpetually adjourned. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe case was listed for hearing on Tuesday 9 May 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- courtA new legal team has come on record to represent Cooley. (donegallive.ie)
- courtPatrick O’Sullivan BL applied for Daniel Kreith solicitors, Limerick to come on record. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley had previously represented himself at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Aylmer adjourned the case until the October sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtSeamus Cooley had his bail revoked when he appeared at Cavan District Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge John Aylmer remanded Cooley in custody. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge Aylmer said Cooley had displayed arrogance and shown flagrant disregard for bail conditions. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtA fresh bail application was refused by Judge Roderick Maguire. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley had been remanded in custody after breaching bail conditions at Cavan District Court on June 20. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley had been in custody in Castlerea Prison since June 20 for breaching bail conditions (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBail was refused by Judge Roderick Maguire (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCooley was willing to tender €10,000 compensation to the victim (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCooley was due to sign on three times a week at Buncrana Garda Station but had only 82% adherence (irishmirror.ie)
- courtAn affidavit of Garda Neil Kemmy noted three breaches: not inhabiting the given address, not signing on as required, and interacting with the complainant (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLegal aid was extended to cover a psychiatric consultation and report (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCooley will be sentenced in October (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Crawford said Cooley had already taken a bench warrant and there had been two previous applications for revocation of bail (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCooley previously pleaded guilty to the assault and was due to be sentenced at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtSentencing was adjourned and the judge granted liberty for the matter to be mentioned again. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley was remanded in custody at Castlerea Prison after being found to have breached bail conditions. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCrawford suggested the matter could be put into the Donegal Circuit Court list in December. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley appeared at Donegal Circuit Court by video link from Castlerea Prison for sentencing. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe sentencing was adjourned to allow for a psychiatric report on the accused. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned at the request of the defence to obtain a medical report before sentencing. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe defence said Cooley wished to proceed without a psychiatric report. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe psychiatric report is expected by the February sessions of the court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court by video link from Castlerea Prison. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley is due to undergo a psychiatric assessment the following week. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley tendered a guilty plea in July, and a bail application was refused. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe judge said the Circuit Court sits every quarter and cannot set a sentencing date just to wait for a report. (donegallive.ie)
- courtCooley made a late guilty plea, which was given credit by the judge. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe maximum penalty for the offence at the time of its commission was five years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCooley was remanded in custody the previous June after breaching bail conditions at Cavan Circuit Court, with only 82% adherence to his requirement to sign on three times a week at Buncrana Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCooley was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in October. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceCooley was remanded in custody until the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court for sentencing. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceCooley was sentenced to four years in prison by Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four and a half years. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to four years in prison, with credit for time spent in custody. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe maximum penalty for the offence at the time was five years in prison. (donegallive.ie)
- otherLegal aid was previously extended for a second counsel and remains in place. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley said he had 37 or 38 pre-trial matters he wished to raise, and was given one month to serve notice of a preliminary application. (donegallive.ie)
- otherUnder his bail terms, Cooley was due to sign on three times a week at Buncrana Garda Station. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley’s barrister said he had an 82 percent adherence to the signing-on conditions. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley's barrister said he was willing to pay €10,000 compensation to the victim. (donegallive.ie)
- otherMs Reid McDaid is currently living in Australia (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMs Moore said her brother previously attended a psychotherapist (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA psychiatric report is outstanding in the case. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe injured party travelled from Australia for the hearing. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe victim had returned from Australia for three weeks during the last sitting of the court. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley is in custody. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley was remanded in custody last June after breaching bail conditions at Cavan Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe victim returned from Australia for three weeks during the October 2025 sitting. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley denied the attack and blamed another man when shown CCTV. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe victim said she has had symptoms of PTSD and panic attacks. (donegallive.ie)
- otherCooley offered €2,500 to the victim, which she did not wish to accept. (donegallive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim suffered from PTSD, panic attacks, and avoided social settings for years after the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIt took almost eight years for Cooley to take accountability for the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCooley has 13 prior convictions, including 10 for public order matters and one for aggravated assault from Northern Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 May2026Man who attacked teen then claimed she lied about the attack faces justice
Reports the sentencing of Seamus Cooley to four years' imprisonment for the 2017 assault, including details of the attack, the victim's long-term psychological impact, Cooley's denial and bail breach, and the judge's reasoning.
victim, Shanan Reid McDaid, 18, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaidconvicted, Seamus Cooley, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooley - 22 May2026Donegal man jailed for savage attack on teenage woman in Letterkenny
Court sentencing report for an assault from October 2017. Adds the sentence, the court's reasoning, the victim impact statement, the late guilty plea, and the offer of compensation.
convicted, Seamus Cooley, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid McDaid, 18, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaid - 4 Feb2026Letterkenny assault accused tells court sentencing delay 'getting beyond a joke'
Court report on a guilty plea and pending sentencing for an assault dating from 2017; the accused is in custody, a psychiatric assessment and report are awaited, and the case was remanded to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court. No existing case matches.
convicted, Seamus Cooley, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaid - 9 Dec2025Psychiatric report awaited on man charged with assaulting woman in Letterkenny
Sentencing was adjourned to the February sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court so a psychiatric report on the accused could be prepared. Cooley was remanded in custody until the next sitting. The article states the victim had returned from Australia for three weeks during the last sitting.
accused, Seamus Cooley, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaid - 29 Oct2025Letterkenny assault accused hits out over sentencing delay at Circuit Court
Reports that Cooley's sentencing was adjourned at Letterkenny Circuit Court because a psychiatric report is outstanding, with the matter to return in December. Adds that he is in custody in Castlerea Prison after breaching bail, and that the injured party travelled from Australia for the hearing.
convicted, Seamus Cooley, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid-McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid-McDaid - 10 Jul2025Quantity surveyor pleads guilty to assaulting young woman almost 10 years ago
Guilty plea hearing at Letterkenny Circuit Court; bail refused; remanded in custody; sentencing adjourned to October; legal aid extended for psychiatric assessment.
victim, Shanan Reid McDaid, 18, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaidaccused, Seamus Cooley, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooley - 9 Jul2025Man pleads guilty to serious assault of young woman in Letterkenny
Cooley pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court, was refused bail and remanded in custody, with sentencing due in October. The article gives his age as 50 and reports a €10,000 compensation offer.
convicted, Seamus Cooley, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid-McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid-McDaid - 21 Jun2025Bail revoked of man accused of serious assault in Letterkenny
Reports a 2025 bail revocation hearing in the existing 2017 Letterkenny assault case. Cooley was remanded in custody after breaches of his signing-on conditions, which the court described as flagrant disregard for bail. The article gives his age as 50 and states that Cooley was sent forward to the Circuit Court in February 2020.
victim, Shanan Reid McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaidaccused, Seamus Cooley, 50, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooley - 21 Jun2023New legal team for man charged with assault of teenage girl
Reports that a new legal team has come on record for Cooley, that he previously represented himself, and that the case was adjourned to the October sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
accused, Seamus Cooley, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaid - 3 May2023Man faces trial over assault on teenage girl in Letterkenny
Court report from 3 May 2023: Cooley, representing himself, sought a pre-trial hearing on 36 or 37 matters. Judge Aylmer listed the case for hearing on 9 May 2023 and said pre-trial matters could be dealt with then. Cooley said this was not enough time to find a new legal team.
accused, Seamus Cooley, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooleyvictim, Shanan Reid McDaid, teenage, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaid - 24 Jan2023Man charged with assault of teenage girl told to get a new legal team
Reports the arraignment hearing at Letterkenny Circuit Court on 24 January 2023, where the case was adjourned to the May sitting because Cooley's legal team came off record. Judge Aylmer instructed him to get a new team within a week.
victim, Shanan Reid McDaid, female, irish (judged from name)Shanan Reid McDaidaccused, Seamus Cooley, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Cooley