A FORMER FINE Gael Donegal County Councillor is to stand trial for allegedly producing a hurl during an altercation.

Gareth Reid appeared at Letterkenny District Court where he was served with a book of evidence in the case.

The 41-year-old faces three charges over an alleged incident on 7 May 2021 at Knockfair, Stranorlar.

He is charged with, while committing offences to wit, assault and criminal damage in the course of a fight, producing in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit, a wooden hurl.

The offence is Contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

Reid, of Lawnsdale, Ballybofey, Reid, is also charged with assault causing harm to another man on the same date.

He faces a further charge of criminal damage to a Peugeot Partner van belonging to the alleged victim.

Garda Campbell gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on Reid, who made no reply.

At a previous court sitting, Garda Ronan Morris gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of Reid at Lawnsdale, Ballybofey on 21 February 2022.

Sergeant Gerard Dalton informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has consented for Reid to be forwarded for trial to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court, which commences on 23 April 2024.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham made an order returning Reid for trial. Judge Cunningham administered the alibi warning and made a Section 56 order relating to videos of interviews.

Legal aid was granted to solicitor Rory O’Brien and one legal counsel was assigned in the case.

Bail was granted to Reid on the same, continuing terms.

In September 2008, Reid was co-opted onto Donegal County Council, taking the seat of his grandfather, JJ Reid, following his retirement from politics.

He failed to be re-elected the following year, however.