Man who sabotaged gas supply to Donegal community centre days after Creeslough explosion avoids jail

The court was told there was the very real possibility defendant's actions could have resulted in an explosion

Charlie Lynagh at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where he pleaded guilty to endangerment and criminal damages charges. Picture: North West Newspix

A pensioner who sabotaged the gas supply of a busy community centre in Co Donegal just days after the horrific Creeslough explosion which left 10 people dead, has avoided jail.

Charlie Lynagh, now 74, took a corkscrew and punctured the rubber piping feeding Mevagh Parish Hall in Carrigart on October 22, 2022.

Lynagh appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to endangerment and criminal damages charges.

The court was told there was the very real possibility Lynagh's actions could have resulted in an explosion.

CCTV footage of the incident was played in court, showing Lynagh puncturing the gas piping at the centre, which is next door to the local primary school, just after 10am on a Saturday morning.

Garda Matthew Burke gave evidence of how the hall was used on a regular basis by bingo-goers and by a local boxing club as well as for people gathering after funerals and other occasions.

“It is an active building and would be in use every day,” Garda Burke said.

He said Lynagh's actions posed a very real risk of causing an explosion in the area.

Lynagh, of Tirlaughan, Carrigart, was even filmed removing a baseball cap he was wearing to loosen a tight valve so he could release gas from the piping.

Judge John Aylmer said there was a risk of the “whole thing blowing up” had some individual gone around the back of the frequently-used building for a cigarette.

“You did endanger the community,” Judge Aylmer said. “It is true to say that thankfully nothing happened, but something terrible could have happened. The community would be very worried about someone puncturing gas pipes and creating that risk.” 

The court heard Lynagh cut holes in two high pressure liquefied petroleum gas pipes and then turned on the gas on the attached bottle, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others. The charge is contrary to Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

Damage of €400 was caused, with a refill of the gas costing €250 and repair work amounting to €150 for parts and labour.

When Lynagh, who lives about 1.5km from the hall, was searched, he was found in possession of a black corkscrew with a bottle opener top and a 40mm gold screw. The gas pipes were taken away for examination and puncture holes were observed.

After being arrested and brought to Milford Garda Station, Lynagh told gardaí: “I don’t have to say anything”. He made no admissions to gardaí.

Asked about the endangerment charge, Garda Burke told Judge Aylmer there could have been “quite a significant impact” if the 47kg propane tanks did ignite.

“Our concern was, due to the use of the hall, that people may have gone out the back for a smoke and there would have been a serious risk of ignition,” Garda Burke said. 

There were also concerns relating to possible exposure of people to the gas.

Mr Peter Nolan BL, barrister for Lynagh, said the “unfortunate and appalling” tragedy in Creeslough had occurred less than 10 minutes away only two weeks before this incident. He said in that context people would become alarmed at the thought of someone interfering with a gas cylinder.

The court heard Lynagh has 35 previous convictions, some of which date back to 1972, including 19 for public order offences, four for Section 2 assaults, four for the possession of knives or other articles and three for criminal damage.

A report noted Lynagh has been regarded as “nuisance and threatening” and is barred from several premises in his locality. He told one medical expert that he has been “persecuted for 20 years”.

A report from a psychiatrist said Lynagh has been referred to mental health services “several times” since 2009. He was described as someone with a mild intellectual disability, reduced learning capacity and a limited attention span.

Mr Nolan asked Judge Aylmer to note the restrictions a custodial sentence would have on Lynagh.

A charge of causing criminal damage was marked as taken into consideration while Judge Aylmer placed the endangerment charge on the mid-range and merited a starting point for sentencing of three years in prison “because of the level of danger”.

“I have to take into account to protect the local community in Carrigart from people like you creating that type of risk to them,” Judge Aylmer said.

The mitigating factors merited a reduction of the sentence to one of two years.

Judge Aylmer said he would hold that sentence over the head of the accused to give him a chance to “behave himself” and to engage positively.

The two-year sentence was suspended for a period of two years on condition Lynagh entered a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years. He has also been placed under the supervision of the Probation Service for 12 months and has been ordered to comply with all directions regarding his rehabilitation.

“If you get into any trouble, you will be brought back here and you’ll have to serve that two years,” Judge Aylmer said. “I don’t want to see you again and I hope you don’t disappoint me”.