Man appears in court charged with deaths of mother and daughter in Donegal crash

Stephen Maguire

A young man has appeared in court in connection with the deaths of a Co Donegal mother and her young daughter.

Natalie and Ella McLaughlin were killed following a two-vehicle collision at Glentogher outside Carndonagh on the evening of July 2nd, 2025.

Six-year-old Ella died at the scene and her loving mother Natalie, who was aged 27, passed away the following day at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

McLaughlin's boyfriend Tyrone, who was in his 30s, and the couple's other daughter Rhea Rose, who was 20 months at the time, were also injured in the crash.

Lochlainn Doherty, now 19, appeared at Buncrana District Court in connection with the deaths.

The accused, of Doaghmore, Clonmany, is charged with a total of eight offences.

Sgt Charlene Anderson, of Buncrana Garda Station, outlined the arrest of Doherty on Main Street, Buncrana earlier today.

Sgt Anderson listed out all the charges and said the accused did not make any reply to any of the charges.

Doherty is charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Natalie and Ella McLaughlin at Glentogher, Carndonagh on July 2nd, 2025.

He is also charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Tyrone Irwin and Rhea Irwin on the same date and the same location.

He is also charged with two charges of driving without insurance, one at the Isle of Doagh and one at Glentogher, Carndonagh.

He is also charged with having no driving license at the Isle of Doagh and also at Glentogher, Carndonagh.

The accused, dressed in a green jumper, sat beside his father in court and did not speak during the brief hearing.

Garda Sgt Conor Mulkerns said there was no objection to bail in the case and that there were no conditions on that bail.

He asked for the accused to be remanded on his own bail to Carndonagh District Court on September 15th for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Sgt Mulkerns said that the accused man's solicitor was Patsy Gallagher and that all disclosure could be sent to him.

Judge Emile daly adjourned the case and said she was allowing an extension of time for the preparation of a book of evidence.

Members of the McLaughlin family stood outside the courthouse holding pictures of Natalie, Ella and Rhea.