Businessman Brian McDonagh accused of breaching bail over alleged firearm incident
Seán McCárthaigh
A judge has refused an application to revoke the bail conditions of a businessman who was involved in a stand-off with a sheriff and armed gardaí at his former home in Wicklow earlier this year.
A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard Brian McDonagh (65) with an address in Walkinstown, Dublin 12, has been charged with two counts of burglary as a result of an alleged breach of his bail conditions at his former home at Drummin House, Delgany, Co Wicklow on October 4-5, 2025.
Detective Sergeant Brian Shiggins told the court that the accused had previously owned and lived in Drummin House, but that there had been a court order to take possession of the property.
Det Sgt Shiggins said Mr McDonagh had been charged with three offences in relation to an incident at Drummin House on February 24th, 2025.
They relate to the alleged possession of a shotgun, the production of a firearm likely to intimidate, and to wilfully obstructing a sheriff.
The court heard that the accused had bail conditions in October, which required him to stay away from Drummin House and its grounds and to sign on at Greystones garda station on Mondays and Fridays.
Det Sgt Shiggins gave evidence that he was seeking to have Mr McDonagh remanded in custody for the alleged breaches of his bail conditions last month.
He told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that it was alleged that the accused had encroached on the grounds of Drummin House by going to a gate lodge and posting a notice on its door on October 4th.
Det Sgt Shiggins said Mr McDonagh had returned to the property on October 5th when he was arrested by gardaí and brought before Bray District Court.
When arrested, he said the accused fully admitted that he had placed “a legal notice” on the door of the gate lodge at Drummin House.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Justin McQuade BL, Det Sgt Shiggins said he was not budging from seeking to revoke the accused’s bail.
Questioned what evidence he had about a breach of the bail conditions, the witness replied that Mr McDonagh had made admissions when interviewed by gardaí that he had been at the location and posted a notice on the door of the gate lodge.
Det Sgt Shiggins said he would be looking for very stringent conditions if the court decided to grant him continuing bail.
Judge Patrick Quinn remarked that the evidence about the alleged breach of the bail conditions was “sort of hearsay” and that the incident appeared to be “a one-off breach.”
Mr Kelly said the prosecution would be happy if the accused testified to agree to certain bail conditions.
Mr McDonagh committed to the court that he would reside at an address in Walkinstown, Dublin 12, and provided a mobile phone number at which he would be contacted by gardaí at all times.
He also agreed to observe the conditions to keep away from Drummin House and its grounds and to sign on at Greystones Garda Station on Mondays and Fridays.
Remanding Mr McDonagh on continuing bail, Judge Quinn stressed to the accused that there should be no misunderstanding, but that his bail would be revoked if there were any further breaches of the undertaking he had given to the court.
