Three McDonagh brothers plead guilty to violent Waterford shed attack

Three brothers have pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in a shed in Waterford over a drug debt.

Michael McDonagh, 30, of 11 Meadow View, Cahir, Co Tipperary; Andrew McDonagh, 28, of 35 Ballytruckle Road, Waterford city; and Bernie Patrick McDonagh, 19, of 11 Dun Uisce, Cahir, admitted their roles in the October 14, 2025 attack.

The victim had been paying €200 a week towards a €4,000 drug debt, which Andrew later “bought” and inflated to €14,000. He was lured to a shed at 5 The Crescent, St John’s Park, Waterford city, where the brothers assaulted him with copper‑pipe bars and a hammer.

During the assault Michael laughed as the victim pleaded for mercy, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threatened further violence against the victim, his partner and family. The victim suffered a brain bleed, fractured skull and spine, broken fingers and cracked knuckles, was unable to walk for three days and spent six nights in University Hospital Waterford.

Detective Garda Sean Lane presented the case in Waterford District Court, noting six vials of blood matching the victim’s DNA were found in the shed. Michael was refused bail in January 2026. Andrew’s request to vary his High Court bail for a Tenerife holiday was denied after multiple breaches, and Bernie Patrick’s similar application was withdrawn.

The three men will appear before the court on 13 January to set a sentencing date.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Peter Holmboe / Pexels.