Jailed Donegal man threatens legal action in latest courtroom outburst
A Donegal man who was jailed this year for a savage assault on a teenage girl has told a judge that he would “take legal action” in his latest court outburst,
Seamus Cooley, who was imprisoned for four years in May, appeared at Letterkenny District Court via video link,
The 51-year-old is before the court on separate assault charges.
Judge Emile Daly noted to Cooley that he had indicated that solicitor Mr Brian Doherty has been appointed to represented him.
Cooley agreed but said that his legal representative was not in court as the court date was previously adjourned to September and not this day.
“I have no idea,” Cooley told the court, adding that his case was put into September for a plea or a hearing date.
Sergeant Jim Collins advised the court that Cooley was in custody on a separate matter.
After his case was formally adjourned, Cooley said: “That is the second time this has happened. Don’t do that again or I will take legal action.”
His matter will again be before the court at the end of this month
Last month, Cooley rejected legal representation, spoke over Judge Éiteáin Daly and alleged corruption during two separate appearances before the court on the same day.
The following week, he informed the court that Mr Doherty, a Dublin-based solicitor, would be representing him. On that day, Cooley added that his solicitor wasn’t present and he would need an adjournment to September.
Quantity surveyor Cooley is charged with assaulting Garda Rory McGowan at an address in Lifford on May 27, 2023. The offence is contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
Cooley is also charged with assaulting a man at the Angling Centre, Cahir O’Doherty Avenue, Buncrana on April 20, 2024 and with an assault at Murlog, Lifford on May 27, 2023.
Cooley faces a further charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on at the Angling Centre, Cahir O’Doherty Avenue, Buncrana on April 20, 2024.
In May, Cooley was jailed for four years following a savage and unprovoked attack on a teenage woman.
Cooley was jailed at Letterkenny Circuit Court for the random attack on Shanan Reid McDaid.
The court heard that Cooley rained a series of punches on the then 18-year-old’s face on October 15, 2017.
Cooley denied the attack and told Gardai that the allegation against him was “bullshit” while he was said to have been “extremely derogatory” about Ms Reid McDaid and other women.
Cooley has been in prison since last June, when he was remanded in custody for repeated bail breaches, and his barrister, Mr James McGowan SC, said that being incarcerated has been “difficult” for his client.
Judge John Aylmer described then incident as a “very violent physical attack” and imposed a four-year prison sentence.