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. 13170Arson · Co. Donegal · 19 Apr 2019

Pensioner charged over 2019 gorse fire fails to appear at Letterkenny Circuit Court

Anthony O’Donnell, 79, charged with four counts of arson over an April 2019 gorse fire in west Donegal that caused over €300,000 in damage, did not appear at Letterkenny Circuit Court. The matter was adjourned until October.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA fire in April 2019 caused over €300,000 of damage to homes and property. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe accused's address is listed as Glen Lodge, Drumnacart Mountain, Burtonport. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe accused is charged with four counts of arson. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe charges are under section 2 (1) and (4) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991, all relating to 19 April 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeOne charge concerns fire damage to the dwelling house of Ann Beggs and an oil tank at Drumnacart, Annagry, valued at €220,000. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeOne charge concerns arson at the rear dwelling house of Eugene Morgan at Drumnacart, Annagry, valued at €21,500. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeOne charge concerns arson at a shed belonging to Nancy McLaughlin at Drumnacart, Annagary, containing two vintage Massey Ferguson tractors. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeOne charge concerns arson at the rear of the dwelling house and garage of Stefan Bullon at Rannyhaul, Kincasslagh, valued at €70,000. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe accused was not present when his case was called at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe State raised concerns over the accused's reasons for not attending and said it was ready to proceed. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge adjourned the matter until October on the defence application. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe accused is reportedly now living in the Birmingham area of England. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherLast week the defence contested that the accused lacked capacity to attend court. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Jul2025
    In courtdonegallive.ie, first report
    West Donegal pensioner accused of starting deadly gorse fire fails to show in court

    Court report on a failed appearance and adjournment to October. The charge details give 19 April 2019 as the date of the offences, and the article describes the fire as occurring at Easter 2019. Lists the four properties named in the charges and reports that the defendant is reportedly living in England and that his capacity to attend was contested.

    accused, Anthony O'Donnell, 79, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony O'Donnellvictim, Ann Beggs, irish (judged from name)Ann Beggsvictim, Eugene Morgan, irish (judged from name)Eugene Morganvictim, Nancy McLaughlin, irish (judged from name)Nancy McLaughlinvictim, Stefan Bullon, non-irish (judged from name)Stefan Bullon