Sixth arrest made over attempted murder of Charles Dooher in Lifford

A man was arrested on Sunday in connection with the attempted murder of Charles Dooher in January 2025.

The Lifford man was left for dead when a masked gang stormed his home in the border town.

On Sunday, April 5, 2026, a man, aged in his 50s, was arrested by Gardai and detained at a Garda Station under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

Detectives probing the brutal attack on the young farmer released the man without charge after a period of questioning.

A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The man is the sixth person to be arrested in connection with the incident, which is being treated as an attempted murder.

Both the Gardai and the PSNI are involved in the investigation.

In November, a man in his 40s was arrested in the Dublin area. He was also released without charge.

In July of last year, a 60-year-old man was arrested by the PSNI in Derry and a woman in her 50s was lifted by detectives in Donegal and quizzed over a number of days at Letterkenny Garda Station.

In the days after the attack on Mr Dooher, two men were arrested in Derry, but also later released on bail.

On the first anniversary of the attack, Mr Dooher said that his attackers would “have to face God”.

At around 10am on January 20, 2025, a masked and armed gang set upon the 26-year-old farmer in his home at Conneyburrow Road.

He was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where he underwent extensive surgeries - including having a protective plate fitted to his head.

Mr Dooher was left with a shattered skull and a traumatic brain injury, but made what was called a “miracle recovery” after spending several weeks in intensive care.

“One year ago today if the organisers got their way I wouldn’t be here today, my surgeon said it’s one of the worst injury’s he’s ever seen from America to Ireland,” Mr Dooher said in a social media post in January.

“I am walking proof of grace. Learning to walk and talk again along with many other things, God help the people that done this; They will all have to face God himself some day.”

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Several Garda units, including the Armed Response Unit, attended the scene of the attack and a major cross-border manhunt was launched as authorities on both sides of the border sought information on the gang.