Derry brothers spared conviction after incident in Donegal hotel

Two brothers from Derry have escaped a conviction following a dispute in a Donegal hotel.

Jason Ryan and Lee Ryan were before Letterkenny District Court in connection with the incident at the Shandon Hotel, Marble Hill, on December 22, 2024.

Jason Ryan, aged 30, and 28-year-old Lee Ryan, each of Hawthorn Grove, were spared convictions when they appeared before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.

Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that the two defendants were involved in a dispute with a kitchen porter at around 2.15am.

It was alleged that one of the defendants attempted to grab the night porter by the neck and it was claimed that one of the defendants made an attempt to head-butt the night porter. Sergeant Doyle told the court that no contact was made with the night porter and the two defendants left the area and went to their bedrooms when another hotel employee intervened.

Two assault charges were withdrawn after the State offered no evidence in respect of those matters, with both left facing charges of a breach of the peace.

Solicitor Mr Kieran O’Gorman, representing both defendants, said the men were staying in the Shandon with their partners and children on the night in question.

“All parties consumed a considerable amount of alcohol,” Mr O’Brien said. 

Sergeant Doyle confirmed that both men have no previous convictions.

“This was a scuffle rather than anything else,” Mr O’Brien said, adding that his clients wish to apologise to everyone concerned.

The court heard that €200 in bail money had been lodged in respect of the men.

Noting consent to use the bail money in respect of a charitable donation, Judge Cunningham said the charges could be struck out with the money donated to the Letterkenny Community and Youth Club.

“There is a lesson to be learned from all of this,” Judge Cunningham said. “You need to watch the alcohol intake.”