A 25-year-old man filmed two accomplices attacking his uncle’s car in the carpark at Enniskillen hospital, resulting in just under £10,000 worth of damage to the vehicle. 

Derek McDonagh of Marina Court Apartments in Bundoran appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday to face a charge of criminal damage. 

The court heard that police were called to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen at 7.36pm on December 6th last. Three males wearing dark clothes and balaclavas had been disturbed while damaging a Vauxhall Zafira belonging to Charles McDonagh, which was parked in the underground car park. 

McDonagh, who was wearing a blue boiler suit and balaclava, had been videoing his two co-defendants and directing them in the operation. CCTV showed the three entering the hospital car park in a  Volkswagen Passat and leaving again after 59 seconds. 

The defendant was stopped by police on the Sligo Road in February and McDonagh appeared nervous as officers searched the vehicle and discovered his Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. He was asked by officers to unlock the device and the video created on December 6th was found on the phone memory. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick heard that the damaged car had belonged to McDonagh’s uncle and had sustained £9,959 worth of damage. 

McDonagh, the court was told, is a father of three who suffers from significant mental health issues. 

Judge Broderick said the phone in McDonagh’s possession had been “well-spotted by police” when they stopped him two months after the incident. On hearing that no one else was apprehended in relation to the incident, the judge said: “No doubt he knows full well who did it”.  

The judge added: “This is a very serious matter but I can’t ignore this man’s past history of mental health issues”. He said he was ruling out imposing an immediate custodial sentence “with some hesitation”. 

McDonagh was given a six month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £300 compensation to the victim.