Courts

Grandson charged after man (70s) dies in hospital following incident at home in Donegal

Derek Burns died on Tuesday, the same day his grandson Derek Mulligan (36) appeared in court

Derek Mulligan arriving at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Tuesday. Photograph: North West Newspix

Stephen Maguire
Wed Dec 20 2023 - 14:44

An elderly man who was assaulted in Co Donegal earlier this week has died in hospital.

Derek Burns, who was in his 70s, died at Letterkenny University Hospital on Tuesday night following an incident at his home in Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, Gaoth Dobhair on Sunday.

His grandson, Derek Mulligan, has appeared in court, charged in connection with the incident. The 36-year-old initially appeared at a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Tuesday evening.

He was charged that on December 17th, 2023, at Carrickcoyle, Derrybeg, Gaoth Dobhair, he did intentionally or recklessly cause serious harm to Derek Burns.

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Det Garda Paul Dolan gave evidence of arresting and charging the 36-year-old accused. He said the accused made no reply.

The accused is also facing other charges including that on the same date and place he caused criminal damage to a red Nissan Quashqai.

The defedant, of Magheraclogher, Bunbeg, is also charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a person known to him, with assaulting another person also known to him and with the assault of a third person on the same date and at the same location.

Solicitor for the accused, Rory O’Brien, said there would be no application for bail. He asked Judge Mitchell to adjourn the case to Wednesday morning and asked that his client should be immediately evaluated by a psychiatrist.

Mr Mulligan appeared by video-link for a brief hearing before Judge Mitchell again on Wednesday at the Letterkenny court. The case was adjourned to January 8th for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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