A book of evidence has been served on a man accused of intentionally knocking down a woman with a car at An Grianán of Aileach fort.
The man, who is in his 40s and from the Inishowen area, appeared before Buncrana District Court in connection with the incident which occurred on Easter Sunday, 2024.
The accused cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim in the case as there is a domestic violence aspect in the case.
He has been charged with intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct, namely deriving a mechanically propelled vehicle, at a female, striking her with the vehicle and knocking her down, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm. The charge is contrary to section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
The man is also charged with assaulting the woman and causing her harm. The charge is contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
He has also been charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the woman, a charge contrary to section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
Sergeant Emmet Brady told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has consented for the accused being sent forward for trial to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court, commencing on May 20, 2025.
Garda Ray Hamilton gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on the accused man at 10.52am on March 25, 2025 at Buncrana courthouse.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham adjourned the case until April 10, 2025 in order for the accused man to consider whether to go forward to the Circuit Court on a signed guilty plea.
A previous court sitting heard that it was alleged that the man struck the woman with a car before pulling her by the hair and striking her on the face ‘a number of times’.
An independent witness, who was camping at the ancient fort, alerted gardai when he made a 999 call. The witness told gardai that he witnessed the incident in a car park close to the monument, which dates back to the sixth century.
The accused man was alleged to have driven the vehicle at the injured party – who left the car following a verbal row – and collided with her. He was then alleged to have reversed back before exiting the vehicle and pulling the woman up by the hair and hitting her.
Solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian represents the man and previously told Letterkenny District Court that the man had been in a ‘fairly tumultuous relationship’ with the woman and alcohol was involved. Mr Dorrian said the pair were at the location ‘for romantic reasons and that seems to have gone wrong’.
Bail conditions previously set down included that: the man not contact, either directly or indirectly, the injured party; he provide his mobile phone number to gardai; he remain out of named locations; and that he sign on once a week at Buncrana Garda Station.