Ireland Crime

Named as

Victim

Offences

Theft, Assault, Public order offence, Careless driving

Where

Co. Donegal

Reporting

7 reports, 20 Jun 2023 to 23 Sep 2025

Outlets

irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie, donegallive.ie, irishmirror.ie

• Donegal councillor on trial for phone theft at Letterkenny Theft · Co. Donegal

  Donegal county councillor Frank McBrearty, 56, of Tullyvinney, Raphoe, is charged with stealing a Samsung S21 Ultra mobile phone valued at €1,000 belonging to fellow councillor Gary Doherty during a special meeting of Donegal County Council at the Aura Leisure Centre, Sallaghrane, Letterkenny on 11 July 2022. He was originally charged with four offences in June 2023, including the theft, an assault on councillor Gerry McMonagle, threatening words, and careless driving. In September 2025, McBrearty was committed for trial at Letterkenny District Court, granted free legal aid and senior and junior counsel, and released on a €100 nominal bond. In November 2025, his barrister withdrew an application to transfer the proceedings to Dublin, and a trial date was noted at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

  In court, 20 Jun 2023Victim · 5 reports
• Donegal councillor's assault and public order charges adjourned to September Assault · Co. Donegal

  Frank McBrearty, a 56-year-old man from Tullyvinney, Raphoe, and Donegal County Councillor, faces charges including three alleged assaults, a public order offence, a breach of the peace, a careless driving charge, a wilful obstruction charge and a theft, spanning incidents from December 2021 to May 2023 in Lifford, Letterkenny and Buncrana. The case was mentioned at Letterkenny District Court in May 2024 and adjourned to Buncrana District Court, where McBrearty elected to be tried in the Circuit Criminal Court. In March 2025 the matter was adjourned again at Letterkenny District Court for the service of a book of evidence, with the defence indicating it would seek a peremptory hearing or transfer to Dublin if the evidence was not ready. In January 2026 the District Court charges were adjourned to September for mention, with McBrearty's solicitor asking that his Circuit Court matters be dealt with first.

  In court, 21 May 2024Victim · 2 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 23 Sep2025
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Donegal councillor on trial for phone theft at Letterkenny

   Donegal councillor sent for trial charged with stealing phone of colleague

   victim, Gary Doherty, irish (judged from name)Gary DohertyIE
2. 23 Sep2025
   In courtthejournal.ie, in Donegal councillor on trial for phone theft at Letterkenny

   Donegal councillor to stand trial for allegedly stealing a fellow councillor's phone

   victim, Gary Doherty, irish (judged from name)Gary DohertyIE
3. 23 Sep2025
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Donegal councillor on trial for phone theft at Letterkenny

   Donegal county councillor faces trial charged with stealing councillor's phone

   victim, Gary Doherty, male, irish (judged from name)Gary Doherty♂IE
4. 3 Sep2025
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Donegal councillor on trial for phone theft at Letterkenny

   Donegal Councillor to be served with book of evidence over alleged phone theft

   victim, Gary Doherty, irish (judged from name)Gary DohertyIE
5. 12 Mar2025
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Donegal councillor's assault and public order charges adjourned to September

   Court case of Donegal County Councillor adjourned for book of evidence

   victim, Gary Doherty, irish (judged from name)Gary DohertyIE
6. 29 May2024
   In courtdonegallive.ie, in Donegal councillor's assault and public order charges adjourned to September

   Donegal County Councillor to seek trial in Dublin court

   victim, Gary Doherty, irish (judged from name)Gary DohertyIE
7. 20 Jun2023
   In courtirishmirror.ie, in Donegal councillor on trial for phone theft at Letterkenny

   Donegal county councillor charged with assault on fellow councillor at meeting

   victim, Gary Doherty, irish (judged from name)Gary DohertyIE

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.