'Very erratic' Buncrana man allegedly threatened woman with wheel brace

A “very erratic” Buncrana man, who allegedly threatened a woman with a wheel brace after she asked him to move his car from the front of her driveway last year, has appeared in court.

Cathal McDaid, of 42b Earlsfort, Buncrana, faced a series of charges before the most recent sitting of Buncrana District Court.

The 31-year-old was charged with possession of a wheel brace, contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. He was also charged with assault, criminal damage, breach of the peace, and trespassing.

All the charges relate to an incident outside a home at St Mary’s Road, Buncrana on July 24, 2024. Mr McDaid arrived late into court for the hearing, while wearing a baseball hat, which Judge Patricia Cronin asked him to remove.

“When you’re case is in this courtroom, you need to be in here. I don’t need to be waiting, nor does everybody else. Please remove your cap when you’re in the courtroom,” she said.

Garda Deirdre Connolly was sworn in to give evidence of arrest, charge and caution. She told the court that Mr McDaid made no reply after caution. Sergeant Emmet Brady said the DPP had directed summary disposal in the case, meaning that it can be dealt with at the District Court. But first, Judge Cronin had to decide whether or not she would agree to accept jurisdiction in respect of the Section 11 weapons charge.

Sgt Brady outlined the details of the incident, which occurred at 7.20pm on the evening of July 24, 2024 at St Mary’s Road, Buncrana. The complainant was leaving the driveway of her residence at that time when she noticed that her drive was partially blocked by a red Ford Focus.

The defendant, Cathal McDaid, returned to his vehicle a short time later and the complainant asked him if he would refrain from parking in the yellow box, as it was obstructing her from exiting her driveway.

Mr McDaid then became “very erratic and violent” at this point, Sgt Brady told the court. He started roaring and shouting at the woman, before entering the property and kicking the front passenger door of a car. He continued shouting expletives and then allegedly took a wheel brace from his car and brandished it as a weapon.

Mr McDaid went towards the woman with the wheel brace but she ran away, before being aided by passers-by, who alerted gardaí. The defendant was later arrested.

After hearing an outline of the facts, Judge Cronin queried whether the wheel brace was used, and she was told that it was produced, but there was “no contact”.

The judge accepted jurisdiction in the case, and it was adjourned back to Buncrana District Court on July 10. Mr McDaid, who’s represented by Frank Dorrian, was remanded on continuing bail until then.