James Donegan ordered to stand trial for 1979 murder

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

James Donegan was ordered to stand trial for the alleged murder of Joseph James Porter at a hearing in Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, on 28 October 2025. The case was returned to Newry Crown Court.

Donegan, of Bruce Manor, Arva, Co Cavan, is accused of murdering Porter on a date unknown between 22 and 25 June 1979. He also faces charges of possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and belonging to the Irish Republican Army, a proscribed organisation, during the same period.

Porter, a 64-year-old farmer and part-time Ulster Defence Regiment soldier, was found dead near the entrance to his farm at Mountnorris, Co Armagh, on 24 June 1979. A post-mortem examination that day concluded he had died of gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

Donegan was extradited from the Republic earlier in 2025. In January, High Court judge Patrick McGrath had ordered his surrender to UK authorities but stayed the order to allow him to seek an appeal. The Supreme Court refused permission to appeal, a decision reported on 28 March 2025.

At the October hearing, Donegan’s defence team said they did not accept that there was a prima facie case. District Judge Anne Marshall found there was a case to answer, adding that it was not for her to decide guilt or innocence.

The judge remanded Donegan on £500 bail with a combined total of £200,000 in sureties and ordered him to appear for arraignment on 2 December 2025.