Former Donegal Councillor pleads guilty to serious assault and criminal damage

A barrister said that there is a ‘very involved family history in this matter’, which is also before the High Court over ‘lands, walls, et cetera’ and the court should be informed about these matters

Gareth Reid appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court

27 May 2025 7:55 PM

A former Donegal County Councillor has pleaded guilty to charges relating to a serious assault.

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The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to charges arising out of an incident at Knockfair, Stranorlar, in May 2021

He was charged with assaulting Paul McCool and causing him harm. The charge is contrary to section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

Reid, of Lawnsdale, Stranorlar, was also charged with an act of criminal damage. He was charged that he did, without lawful exact, damage property, namely the driver’s side of a Peugeot Partner van belonging to Paul McCool, a charge contrary to section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

Reid spoke only to plead guilty to the charges when he appeared before Judge John Aylmer. 

His barrister, Mr Peter Nolan BL, told the court that Reid has previous convictions “going back some time”.

Mr Nolan said that there is a “very involved family history in this matter”. He told Judge Aylmer that the matter is also before the High Court over “lands, walls, et cetera” and the court should be informed about these matters.

Judge Aylmer requested a probation report and asked that it include an assessment on Reid’s suitability for community service.

In September 2008, Reid was co-opted onto Donegal County Council, taking the seat of his grandfather, JJ Reid, following his retirement from politics. He failed to be re-elected to the Council the following year.