Ireland Named in reporting
Derek Burns
Born between March 1947 and March 1948, from the ages reported. 20 reports across 2 cases, 20 Dec 2023 to 27 Mar 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Victim
- Born
- Between March 1947 and March 1948, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Murder, Assault causing serious harm
- Where
- Co. Donegal
- Reporting
- 20 reports, 20 Dec 2023 to 27 Mar 2026
- Outlets
- donegallive.ie, rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Donegal man found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity Murder · Co. Donegal
Derek Mulligan, 39, with an address at Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, Donegal, is accused of killing his grandfather Derek Burns, 78, by beating him with a granite stone and a cement block outside his home. Burns was found unconscious on 17 December 2023 and died at Letterkenny University Hospital on 19 December. Mulligan was arrested in December 2023, charged in March 2024, and stood trial at the Central Criminal Court in March 2026, pleading not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder and four related charges. On 27 March 2026, a jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity on all five counts, and the judge committed Mulligan to the Central Mental Hospital.
Acquitted, 1 Mar 2026Victim · 14 reports - Man charged with assault causing serious harm in Derrybeg adjourned Assault causing serious harm · Co. Donegal
Derek Burns, a man in his 70s, was assaulted at his home in Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, Co Donegal on 17 December 2023 and died at Letterkenny University Hospital on 19 December. His grandson, 36-year-old Derek Mulligan, was arrested and charged on 19 December with assault causing serious harm, criminal damage to a red Nissan Qashqai, a threat to kill or cause serious harm, and two further assaults on other people. Mulligan appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on 19 December, made no reply, and no bail application was made. The case has been adjourned repeatedly while awaiting DPP directions and a psychiatric report, and was most recently adjourned to 20 March 2024. Mulligan remains in custody at Castlerea Prison.
In court, 17 Dec 2023Victim · 6 reports
Timeline
every report naming Derek Burns, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 27 Mar2026Donegal man found not guilty of murdering grandfather by reason of insanityvictim, Derek Burns, 78, male, non-irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 27 Mar2026Man found not guilty of murder by reason of insanityvictim, Derek Burns, 78, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 27 Mar2026'Humane society' seeks not to punish those unwell, defence reminds murder trial juryvictim, Derek Burns, 78, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 26 Mar2026Murder accused told doctors paedophile's release from prison caused him to ‘spiral’victim, Derek Burns, 78, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 24 Mar2026Central Criminal Court hears Donegal man "smacked" stone off grandfather's headvictim, Derek Burns, 78, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 23 Mar2026Donegal man (39) pleads not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering grandfathervictim, Derek Burns, 78, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 1 Mar2026Man who used cement block to beat grandfather to death found not guilty of murder by reason of insanityvictim, Derek Burns, 78, male, non-irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 24 Oct2024Gweedore man accused of murdering grandfather has assault charges added to casevictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 12 Aug2024Donegal man who allegedly killed grandfather to face additional chargesvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 26 Mar2024Book of evidence awaited for man charged with grandfather's murder in west Donegalvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 24 Mar2024Man charged with murder of grandfather at court in Letterkennyvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 21 Mar2024Man charged with murder of his grandfather in Donegalvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 21 Mar2024Donegal man charged with murder of grandfather just days before Christmasvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 21 Mar2024Man charged with murder of grandfather in Co Donegalvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 11 Mar2024Case of Gaoth Dobhair man charged in connection with grandfather's death adjournedvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 13 Feb2024Gweedore man charged over grandfather’s death awaits DPP directionsvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 8 Jan2024Psychiatric assessment ordered for man charged over grandfather’s deathvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 20 Dec2023Grandson charged after man (70s) dies in hospital following incident at home in Donegalvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 20 Dec2023Elderly man dies in hospital after being seriously assaulted in Co Donegal on Sundayvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
- 20 Dec2023West Donegal pensioner (70s) dies after alleged assaultvictim, Derek Burns, 70s, male, irish (judged from name)Derek Burns
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.