A Ballyshannon man has pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Jason McDonagh admitted to asking a woman to withdraw a complaint against him following a stabbing incident.
McDonagh, of Lawne Park, Ballyshannon, was brought to Donegal Circuit Court by prison officers from Castlerea Prison, where he is in custody.
The 34-year-old spoke only to plead guilty when he was formally arraigned before Judge John Aylmer.
McDonagh was charged with intent to pervert the course of justice, contrary to Common Law.
Between May 25, 2023 and July 13, 2023, both dates inclusive, with intent to pervert the course of justice, he did make from Castlerea Prison in County Roscommon phone calls to Shauna Greene which had a tendency to pervert the course of justice in that he continuously telephoned Shauna Greene and asked for her to withdraw a complaint in relation to a section 3 Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, which was before the court, asked her to withdraw, change her statement, to state that it was not true, and go to court and tell the judge likewise.
Mr Peter Nolan BL, barrister for McDonagh, instructed by solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien, said he was not seeking any reports to be prepared for his client.
He said McDonagh is serving a sentence and has completed two years of a four-year term.
McDonagh was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to the Letterkenny Circuit Court in May.
In March, 2024, McDonagh was given a four-year prison sentence for assaulting Ms Greene and causing her harm.
It related to an incident in May, 2023 when he stabbed the victim five times.
He grabbed a knife and began stabbing her and she said all she could feel were sharp pains through her puffer jacket and in her neck. As paramedics attended her, she asked them if she was going to die.
When interviewed by Gardai, McDonagh initially said he did not stab Ms Greene and said a glass had simply been broken in their flat.
The court heard that Ms Greene had withdrawn her complaint a few days after McDonagh had telephoned her from jail – which is now the subject of the current case McDonagh is facing,
The sentence handed down to McDonagh was backdated to when he entered custody in May, 2023.