St Johnston man charged with having six petrol bombs at home

A man has appeared in court charged with having an assortment of items at his home in Donegal including six petrol bombs, a sledge hammer and a baseball bat.  

Daniel Lynch was brought to Letterkenny District Court flanked by detectives.

He was charged with a Section 4 Criminal Damage offence at his home at Tullyowen, St Johnston, on Friday evening, December 13, 2024.

Detective Garda Cathal Feely gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Lynch at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Lynch, aged 47, is charged that he did have in his custody/under his control six petrol bombs, a baseball bat, an iron bar, a knife, a sledgehammer and a wooden shaft.

The charge claims the items were to be used without lawful excuse or cause or allow another to use it - to damage property, to wit, various vehicles belonging to person unknown in a way which you knew was likely to endanger the life of persons unknown.

The charge is Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said that while oral directions had been given in the case, the court will require full directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide on a venue.

Solicitor for the accused, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said the charge was quite a serious one and asked for the case to be adjourned initially to January 6, 2025 to monitor the accused and then adjourn the case to a date in February.

He added that Gardai had no objection to bail.

Detective Feely agreed but asked for a number of conditions to be included for Lynch.

They include that he stay off all social media including one specific named Facebook page, to sign on once a week on a weekend day at Letterkenny Garda Station and also to observe a curfew of between 11pm and 6am each day.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham agreed and stressed to the accused that he should have no contact with any members of the named Facebook Group by text, phone, social media or email, adding: "That's a strict bail condition."

The case was adjourned until January 6, 2025.