Man (22) facing 20 burglary charges across Donegal pleads guilty to two

Stephen Maguire

A young man facing a litany of more than 20 burglary charges across Donegal has pleaded guilty to two of the charges.

Timmy O'Gara appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he admitted two offences at the Cloghan Lodge in Cloghan and another private house in Kilcar.

The 22-year-old is charged with more than 20 offences at a number of locations including Killybegs, Inver, Cloghan, Kilcar, Glencolmcille, Carrick, Fintown, and Teelin.

He has no previous convictions before the courts.

He has been arraigned before Judge John Aylmer on two charges.

He was charged that on a date unknown between May 1st, 2023, and June 26th 2023, at Crowkeragh, Kilcar in Co Donegal he did enter a building known as the premises of Margaret McGill, Crowkeragh, Kilcar, as a trespasser and did commit an arrestable offence, to wit criminal damage therein.

He was also charged that on a date unknown between July 24th, 2023, and July 26th, 2023, at Cloghan Lodge, Cloghan, Lifford, did enter a building known as the premises of Michael McGinty as a trespasser and did commit an arrestable offence, to wit criminal damage therein.

O'Gara, with an address at Drimroe, Glencolmcille spoke only to plead guilty to both charges.

His barrister, Mr Garnet Orange, SC, instructed by solicitor Rory O'Brien, said his client had entered an early plea and has no previous convictions.

Mr Orange asked the court to direct a Probation Report and also requested that the legal aid certificate be extended to include a psychologist's report adding that instructing solicitor Mr O'Brien said he was satisfied there may be an issue.

Judge John Aylmer granted the requests and adjourned the case for final sentencing to the July sessions of the court.