A pensioner is to stand trial accused of endangering the lives of people after sabotaging a gas pipe supply cylinder of a community centre in Co Donegal.
Charlie Lynagh, 72, appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he faced three separate charges arising out of the attack at Mevagh Hall in Carrigart on October 22nd last.
Lynagh is accused of using a knife to cut holes in two high pressure liquefied petroleum gas pipes and then turning on the gas on the attached bottle which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.
The charge was Contrary to Section 13of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
Lynagh is also charged with having a knife which had a blade or which was sharply pointed on the same date and at the same location.
This charge was Contrary to Section 9 (1) and (7) of the Firearms offensive Weapons Act, 1990.
He was also charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, two high pressure LPG rubber gas pipes belonging to Mevagh Parish intending to damage such property or being wreckless as to whether such property would be damaged.
This charge was Contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said the Director of Public Prosecutions had sent the accused forward for trial at the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court in October on all three charges.
His solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said the case was a serious one noting the community hall at which the sabotage took place is next to a local school.
He requested that two counsel be assigned to Lynagh during his trial and this was granted by Judge Eiteain Cunningham.
A video of CCTV footage of Lynagh, of Tirloughan, Carrigart, allegedly tampering with the gas cylinders had been circulating on social media.
Garda Matthew Burke, of Milford Garda Station, previously told a court that he arrested Lynagh at Letterkenny Courthouse today and put the charges to him but he made no reply.
The accused man did not speak during the court hearing.
Judge Eiteain gave the accused the alibi warning and Lynagh was released on bail with the same terms and conditions as previous hearings.
The case was adjourned to the Circuit Court in Letterkenny on October 17th next.
