Gardai arrested a man in his 40s on Monday over the shocking attack on Charles Dooher, 26, in Lifford on January 20
16:34, 03 Dec 2025Updated 12:02, 04 Dec 2025
Charles Dooher, 26, suffered life changing injuries in the attack.
Gardai have arrested a second suspect over the shocking crime gang murder bid on this young farmer that left him fighting for his life.
The man, who is in his 40s, was arrested on Monday as part of the Garda probe into the January attack in Lifford in County Donegal on Charles Dooher.
Mr Dooher, 26, suffered life changing injuries in the attack on him and his father on January 20 – which was so serious that gardai have reclassified it as attempted murder.
Investigators believe the two men were attacked by a Derry-based crime gang.
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Mr Dooher was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast following the attack on him and dad Charles Senior. His father, who is in his 60s, was less seriously injured and was treated in hospital in Letterkenny.
A five-strong gang of masked men burst into the family home and beat both men around the head and body – in what started off as a home invasion and armed robbery and ended up as an attempt to kill Mr Dooher Junior.
Mr Dooher lost part of his skull in the attack and there were fears that he could die from his injuries, but made a miraculous recovery.
Charles pictured with his girlfriend, Charlotte Gallen.
That was after undergoing numerous operations, including having a metal plate inserted in his head following the attack at Coneyburrow Road on January 20.
In May, he delighted family and friends by returning to his local GAA club in Lifford – to meet up with his pals.
While he recovers, gardai and the PSNI have been investigating the attack and this week’s arrest is the fifth in the probe – with two on the southern side of the border, and three in Northern Ireland. But nobody has so far been charged.
The PSNI arrested two male suspects in Derry in late January, but they were later released without charge.
And in July, Garda detectives in County Donegal arrested a female suspect in her 50s. She was held on suspicion of serious gangland crime, but was also later released without charge.
On the same day, the PSNI arrested a 60 year old man in Derry, who was also later released without charge.
Gardai confirmed the latest arrest in a statement on Wednesday. The force said: “Gardaí arrested a man in connection with the investigation into an attempted murder in Lifford, Co. Donegal, on 20th January, 2025.
“The man, aged in his 40s, was arrested on Monday, 1st December 2025 and detained at a Garda Station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
“He has since been released and a file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
The force also made a fresh appeal for any witnesses to come forward.
It said: “Anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 9167100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
The scene of the attack on Mr Dooher and his father Charles Senior Lifford. Photo: North West Newspix(Image: North West Newspix)
Shortly after the attack, the devastated Dooher family issued a strongly worded statement through Belfast legal company Madden and Finucane – in which they said the two men were targeted by a criminal gang.
The statement said: “We are a close, hard working, law abiding family with respect for the law. We believe that a criminal gang from the North, who at times masquerade as members of Dissident Republican micro groups, were engaged and brought in to attack our home with the intention, initially, of carrying out a home invasion and armed robbery.
“Whilst there, the gang cable-tied members of our family, assaulted Charles Senior before cable-trying him also.
“However, a vicious and cowardly attempt was then made to murder young Charles in his own home. Charles was so brutally attacked about the head that he has lost a large portion of his skull. He was airlifted to the RVH in Belfast.”
The statement also criticised Garda handling of the incident.
It said: “What occurred at their home on 20th January 2025 at Lifford, County Donegal, came as a direct result of a failure by An Garda Síochána to police and prosecute members of a local family who have persecuted the Dooher family and maintained a vendetta for more than decade.
“Within hours of the brutal attack on our family, the PSNI deemed the case to be one of attempted murder, a home invasion type armed robbery, and an aggravated burglary. Charles’ skull had been smashed open and he clearly received three massive and obvious blows to the head with a heavy metal weapon.
“The masked gang were clearly caught on CCTV alighting from their vehicle, heavily armed with long metal bars, a large hammer, a wheel brace, a chainsaw and burglary tools.”
They also complained that gardai had not upgraded the case to an attempted murder – but this was done within a few weeks.
A Garda spokesperson said in response to that statement at the time: “An Garda Síochána does not comment on the detail of its interactions with families.
“An Garda Síochána will continue to liaise with the family.”
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