Two men arrested over attack on Lifford home that left young man fighting for his life
Five hooded men with steel batons broke into a house on Coneyburrow Road, Lifford, Co Donegal, on 20 January 2025, badly beating Charles Dooher, a man in his 20s, and his father. Two men were subsequently arrested in the Derry area by PSNI detectives assisting An Garda Síochána.
- Reported20 Jan
3 reports - Arrested20 Jan
2 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports35 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his 20s was airlifted to Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, for life-threatening injuries (garda.ie)
- whatThe man in his 20s remains in critical condition (garda.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s was taken by ambulance to Letterkenny University Hospital for less-serious injuries (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí arrested a woman in connection with an attempted murder in Lifford, Co Donegal, on 20 January 2025. (garda.ie)
- whatThe woman is in her 50s. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men were seriously assaulted at a house at around 10am. (garda.ie)
- whatA man in his 20s was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, for serious injuries. (garda.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s was brought by ambulance to Letterkenny University Hospital for less-serious injuries. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men were seriously assaulted at a house near Coneyburrow Road in Lifford. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 20s was airlifted to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for serious injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFive hooded men with steel batons broke into the house (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCharles Dooher received a brutal beating (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCharles Dooher was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCharles Dooher senior was brought by ambulance to Letterkenny University Hospital (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCharles Dooher senior sustained less-serious injuries (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe was detained at a Garda Station in the North West. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 20 January 2025 in Lifford, Co. Donegal (garda.ie)
- whenShe was arrested on Sunday, 6 July 2025. (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred in Lifford, Co Donegal, on Monday 20 January 2025. (garda.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred at around 10am on Monday, 20 January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred at around 10.30am on Monday, 20 January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí renewed their appeal for witnesses to the incident (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí are seeking camera footage of a silver/grey Peugeot 3008 (2009-2013 model) in the Coneyburrow Road area between 10am and 11am on 20 January (garda.ie)
- investigationShe was detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (garda.ie)
- investigationShe has since been released. (garda.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationA scene is currently held for technical examination. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and camera footage from Coneyburrow Road, Lifford, between 10am and 11am. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe scene was sealed off for a technical examination. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed for witnesses and camera footage from Coneyburrow Road between 10am and 11am. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested in the Derry area (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe two arrested men are in police custody (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe updated appeal was issued on 28 February 2025 (garda.ie)
- otherAnnmarie Dooher began a bedside vigil at her son's hospital bed (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jan2025Two arrested over attack on home that has left young man fighting for his life
Initial report of the assault and the two arrests; PSNI Serious Crime Branch assisting An Garda Síochána.
victim, Charles Dooher, 20s, male, irish (judged from name)Charles Doohervictim, Charles Dooher senior, male, irish (judged from name)Charles Dooher seniorsuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 20 Jan2025Pair brutally assaulted at Lifford house with one victim airlifted to hospital
Provides initial details of the assault including the ages of the two victims, the hospitals they were taken to, and Gardaí's appeal for witnesses and dash-cam footage from Coneyburrow Road between 10am and 11am.
victim, 20s, malevictim, 60s, male - 20 Jan2025Witness Appeal: Serious Assault, Lifford, Co Donegal – 20th January, 2025
Gardaí witness appeal for the same Coneyburrow Road, Lifford, assault as case 2507, adding details of the victims' hospital treatment (airlift to Belfast and ambulance to Letterkenny) and requesting camera footage from the road between 10am and 11am.
victim, 20s, malevictim, 60s, male - 20 Jan2025Update (2) Arrest - Serious Assault/Attempted Murder, Lifford, Co. Donegal - 20th January, 2025
Second arrest in the Lifford attack investigation: a woman in her 50s was arrested on 6 July 2025, detained under Section 50, then released with a file to be prepared for the DPP.
suspect, 50s, female - 20 Jan2025Updated Witness Appeal: Serious Assault/Attempted Murder, Lifford, Co. Donegal – 20th January, 2025.
Updated witness appeal (issued 28 February 2025) for the Coneyburrow Road assault, adding details of the victims' hospital treatment (Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast and Letterkenny University Hospital) and a specific vehicle of interest (silver/grey Peugeot 3008, 2009-2013 model).
victim, 20s, malevictim, 60s, male