A US court filed criminal charges against Cuba’s 94-year-old former leader, Raúl Castro, on May 20. Castro has been charged with conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft. The charges relate to a 1996 incident in which four men were killed after Cuban fighter jets shot down two planes belonging to an exile group from Miami.

The indictment comes at a time when tensions between the two countries are running high, and raises the possibility that the US could try to remove Castro from the country by force, to be brought to trial in the US. We spoke to Anna Grimaldi, a lecturer in global development and Latin American studies at the University of Leeds, about the prospect of military action.

Is there any evidence of Raúl Castro’s involvement in shooting down the aircraft?

Raúl’s brother, Fidel Castro, who was the Cuban president at the time, took responsibility for the 1996 incident shortly after it took place. But US prosecutors argue that, as the then-defence minister, Raúl’s direct orders for Cuban forces to train in tracking and intercepting aircrafts constituted an operational role in the planning phase of the shooting.

In reality, the basic facts of the incident are still unclear. The US maintains the planes were unarmed and flying in international airspace, which would make the downings unlawful. But Cuba argues the aircraft were part of repeated and deliberate violations of its airspace and sovereignty.

Cuban officials continue to frame the attack as a justified act of self‑defence against ongoing provocation. And in any case, Cuban law explicitly prohibits the extradition of its citizens to another country. So unless the US stages an operation to seize Castro, he is unlikely to face trial in the US.

Could the US be using the charges as a pretext for military action against Cuba?

Raúl Castro’s indictment has raised familiar alarm bells. A few months ago, the US carried out a military operation along similar lines in Venezuela which resulted in the capture of the sitting president, Nicolás Maduro. At that time, the US alleged Maduro was involved in drug trafficking and had partnered with cartels designated as terrorist groups.

The US is keeping its options open in Cuba. When asked by reporters following Castro’s indictment whether there could be an arrest similar to Maduro, Trump said: “I don’t want to say that.” Yet he has persistently hinted an interest in carrying out what he calls a “friendly takeover” of Cuba. The Cuban president, Miguel Díaz‑Canel, says this threat alone “constitutes an international crime”.

At least for now, there is little to suggest Washington is actively preparing to intervene in Cuba militarily. In comments to the Associated Press in early May, US officials speaking on the condition of anonymity stated they are “not looking at imminent military action against Havana”.

Cuba’s military doctrine, which is oriented primarily towards territorial defence and in which every citizen is considered a participant, means that military intervention would probably be prolonged. It would also be politically and financially costly.

When fears of retaliation (Cuba lies just 90 miles from Florida) and existing US military commitments elsewhere are also considered, such an intervention looks unlikely in the near term.

The US is much more likely to continue its campaign of indirect pressure, which has intensified in recent years but ultimately stretches back to the Cuban revolution in 1959.

The US regime of sanctions and fuel blockades is crippling Cuba’s economy. Washington appears to be pursuing a strategy of straining the Cuban regime internally, while simultaneously constructing the legal and political justifications for escalation.

Would a Venezuela-style operation in Cuba even be possible?

There are some similarities between the Venezuelan and Cuban cases. By targeting a sitting and former head of state, the US has tried to delegitimise the political leadership of both countries. Cuba and Venezuela have also both faced deep economic crises, heightening their vulnerability to external pressure.

However, there are significant structural differences between the two countries. Venezuela represents a strategically valuable resource for the US, with US policy there closely tied to control over its oil reserves. Cuba lacks comparable material incentives, and has instead been subjected to a long-term embargo and containment strategy.

Cuba’s centralised one‑party system and entrenched institutions also contrast with Venezuela’s more fragmented and weakened state apparatus. And Cuba’s long history of confrontation with the US has fostered a political culture of resistance. Together, these make an operation to impose regime change much less viable.

Is there an opposition movement inside Cuba that would back US military action?

There is no unified political opposition in Cuba. Expressions of dissatisfaction there have frequently taken place through mass emigration, with the island’s one‑party system and other mechanisms of state control constraining the ability of opposition groups to organise and expand.

Rare protests have erupted in Cuba in recent months. But this dissent appears to have be driven largely by material grievances, with reports of demonstrators chanting slogans such “turn on the lights” amid blackouts, rather than an organised political agenda.

At the same time, the external pressure from the US has produced nationalist mobilisation and demonstrations in defence of Cuban sovereignty. Mass rallies throughout the country have framed US threats against Cuba as imperial aggression, emphasising unity and resistance against external intervention.

Dissatisfaction with the Cuban government does exist. But so far, it seems to remain rooted in economic and domestic concerns, rather than translating into alignment with US objectives or welcoming possible intervention.

DC Andrew McKeane, who investigated, said that the images are the ‘worst he’s graded’ since moving into his role about five years ago

A paedophile has been found to have over 2,000 indecent images of children stored on his device, as well as on a cloud storage app linked to him. Ben Sharpe, 31, was visited by the officers at his home in the Huntingdon Road area of Cambridge at about 1.15pm on January 31.

Sharpe, who had already been convicted of indecent images of children offences in 2021, handed over his mobile phone to one of the officers working for the force’s management of sexual and violent offenders (MOSOVO) for them to examine.

The 31-year-old admitted to deleting some apps from the phone before he let the officers in and was arrested. The phone was examined, and 2,188 indecent images of children were found to have been stored on the device, as well as on a cloud storage app linked to Sharpe.

He had also breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) handed down following the 2021 conviction by uninstalling mobile internet browsers, failing to provide police access to his cloud storage, deleting apps and installing a storage cleaner on his phone.

On Thursday, May 21, at Peterborough Crown Court, Sharpe, of Brooks Road, Cambridge, was jailed for two years and six months, having pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a SHPO, three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count each of possessing a prohibited image of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

DC Andrew McKeane, who investigated, said: “The images are the worst I’ve graded since moving into my current role about five years ago so I’m happy Sharpe has been jailed. He clearly hasn’t learned anything from his previous conviction.

“Officers from MOSOVO will always check on convicted sex offenders in the county to make sure they are adhering to their conditions and court orders. In this case, a routine visit has uncovered further offences which has led to a repeat paedophile being jailed.”

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Kyle Busch experienced shortness of breath, felt he was overheating and was coughing up blood the day before his death, according to a 911 call obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

Busch died Thursday at age 41. No cause of death has been given, though his family said earlier he had been hospitalized with a “severe illness” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told the AP.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.

During the emergency call placed late that afternoon from the General Motors training facility, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and the caller told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office.

The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell addressed reporters at a news conference Friday but declined to answer any questions about the cause of death or any health problems that might have plagued Busch.

“We are 24 hours from getting a phone call and out of respect for the family, and they have asked for privacy, I am not going to address anything,” O’Donnell said. “But transparency is something that we all believe in. So in due time I think that everyone will be comfortable with where things stand.”

O’Donnnell talked at length about Busch’s legacy, his rebellious nature and even his feuds with NASCAR, while calling him “an American badass.”

“We certainly had our battles but I would give a lot of money to have a few more battles,” O’Donnell said.

He joked about the time Busch pretended to be seriously hurt when NASCAR had ordered him to go to the infield care center after hitting the wall at Texas.

“He laid flat out on a pit cart, made fun of us,” O’Donnell said. “I was mad at the time, but I look back and that was damn funny — and that was Kyle.”

O’Donnell mentioned NASCAR might consider adding Busch to this year’s list of Hall of Fame Class of 2027 inductees, which was determined earlier this week with Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Larry Phillips being voted in.

The news of Busch’s death sent shock waves across the motorsports world on one of racing’s biggest weekends, which also features the Indianapolis 500.

The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes honored Busch with a moment of silence before Thursday night’s Eastern Conference Finals game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Vice President JD Vance took to social media, saying “I had the opportunity to meet Kyle, one of NASCAR’s greatest racers, on the campaign trail in 2024. Usha and I are praying for him and his family. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.”

Richard Childress Racing announced plans to suspend use of Busch’s No. 8 Cup Series car until his 11-year-old son, Brexton, is old enough to begin NASCAR racing.

Gloomy, gray skies hung over the track on an unseasonably cool day in Concord, which seemed a fitting background for the in memoriam photo of Busch on the videoboard.

Christopher Bell was among the drivers planning to run in the NASCAR Trucks Series race on Friday night, one that Busch had been scheduled to compete in. Busch won last week’s Trucks race at Dover — the final win of his career — giving him 234 victories across NASCAR’s three national series, the most of any driver.

“It’s going to be very strange to be out there without Kyle in the field,” Bell said. “It’s going to take a long time before things feel back to normal.”

Bell called Busch’s death a “gut-wrenching feeling.”

He said he spoke to Busch before the last Trucks Series race and said he seemed “normal, like completely normal.”

On Monday, Busch posted a birthday message to Brexton on Instagram, saying, “Your mom & I are so proud who you’re turning out to be!”

The father and son spent Tuesday night in Durham, North Carolina, with the Andretti family at the opening of a go-kart facility.

“I guess it is a very stark reminder of how fragile life can be,” Bell said.

O’Donnell said NASCAR never seriously considered canceling the Coca-Cola 600.

“Kyle Busch would probably be pretty (upset) if we didn’t race,” O’Donnell said. “So we’re going to honor his memory and make sure people know what he was all about.”

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Indoor air that’s too dry can irritate skin, cause asthma symptoms, sore throats and even cracked lips. Adding moisture back with a humidifier may help.

They’re useful in summer, when fans and air conditioners dry the air, and winter, when heating and dehumidifiers do the same. I know how shifts in temperature can leave my son’s skin feeling uncomfortably dry (not to mention my own), so I’m always looking for ways to manage ot.

I tested 10 of the most popular humidifier brands, including Dyson, Humio and Meaco, to see if they’d help. Incidentally, my house plants have flourished thanks to the added moisture in the air. Prices vary from about £60 to nearly £700, depending on the device you choose.

You can read my reviews further down, followed by some advice on how to use humidifiers. Here’s a quick look at my top five:

The best humidifiers: At a glance

JUMP TO REVIEWS

How to choose the best humidifier

“Many adults suffering with asthma, eczema or allergies choose to buy humidifiers,” says Dr Semiya Aziz, general practitioner and founder of Say GP. “However, it’s important to do your research before purchasing. For example, cool-mist humidifiers may ease a stuffy nose during a cold, whereas a heated humidified air doesn’t seem to have the same result and may be of no benefit.”

If you have allergies, asthma, or skin conditions, speak to a healthcare professional before use. Remember, a humidifier is a home remedy, not a medical treatment.

They also differ in capacity. Some are quite large and designed for bigger rooms, while other models are compact and good for use in a bedroom or child’s nursery. There’s also the option with some humidifiers to add aromatherapy oils or vapour discs to enhance the overall experience. Some even double as air purifiers.

How we test humidifiers

Zenith Aviation Limited, established in 2013, is a luxury private jet operator based in Biggin Hill, London.

The airline’s fleet, which is supported by a team of “highly trained and experienced” pilots and operational ground staff, consists of:

• Bombardier Learjet 75
• Learjet 45
• Citation XLS
• Challenger 605 aircraft

Zenith Aviation Limited, on its LinkedIn page, added: “We’re committed to maintaining unrivalled standards of quality, safety and service.

“Zenith Aviation – quality without compromise.”

Zenith Aviation Limited enters administration with all flights cancelled

After 13 years in business, Zenith Aviation Limited has now fallen into administration.

Paul Hargreaves from Nexus Corporate Solutions Limited was appointed administrator on May 15, according to The Gazette.

Mr Hargreaves, speaking to Newsquest (via The Herald), said Zenith Aviation was in an insolvent position due to “cashflow issues, debtors not paying, and historic ownership and management issues”.

A total of 41 jobs will be lost as a result of the company’s collapse.

Mr Hargreaves continued: “It is unfortunate for the company and the former employees, however, we are assessing the assets of the company, assisting employees with claiming their statutory redundancy entitlements, and looking at options to include potential rescue, or buyout should that be appropriate.

“At this time we are still assessing the company’s position, and evaluating the options.”

Other airlines that have fallen into administration or liquidation in 2026

Several airlines entered liquidation in 2025, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, including:

• Blue Islands Limited (UK) – November
• Air Kilroe Limited t/a Eastern Airways (UK) – November
• Play Airlines (Iceland) – September

This turbulence in the airline industry has carried over into 2026, with more airlines entering administration or liquidation, including:

• Ascend Airways (liquidation)
• EcoJet Airlines (liquidation)
• Royal Air Philippines (administration)
• Dove Airlines (liquidation)

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have also closed down in 2026:

• Regen Central Ltd
• Gold Crest Holidays
• Asiara UK Ltd
• Simply Florida Travel Ltd

All four have ceased trading, according to Companies House, and have lost their Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL).

Luxury holiday company Salamander Voyages also entered administration late last month.

Have you flown with Zenith Aviation before? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

More than 20,000 new cases of melanoma were recorded across the UK in 2022, according to Cancer Research UK, which says most of these diagnoses are preventable.

The charity is urging people to take sun safety seriously, especially ahead of the bank holiday weekend, by covering up, seeking shade, and using sunscreen.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, told PA: “It’s concerning to see the rising number of people being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer across the UK.

“The fact that most of these cases are preventable underlines the importance of people taking sun safety seriously.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK and worldwide, yet 90% of cases are preventable and almost all cases are curable if detected, diagnosed and treated early.

SKCIN are urging you to #CheckYourSkin monthly for signs of change. https://t.co/UW38OWXgT7 pic.twitter.com/9NFsJ2hQsf

— Ashley Dalton MP (@AshleyDalton_MP) May 20, 2026

“Take care when the sun is strong by seeking shade, covering up and applying sunscreen and, if you notice any unusual changes to your skin, contact your GP.

“Whether it is a new or changing mole, a sore that doesn’t heal, or an area of your skin that looks out of the ordinary, it’s important to get it checked out.

“It probably won’t be cancer, but if it is, getting it diagnosed and treated early can make all the difference.”

Cancer Research UK’s latest figures show that melanoma cases have reached 20,980 in a single year, the highest on record.

The charity estimates cases will rise to 26,500 annually by 2040, an increase of 23 per cent among men and 26 per cent among women.

Women are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma at younger ages, often linked to sunbed use and sunbathing.

Men, however, experience higher rates later in life, usually due to long-term sun exposure.

Cancer Research UK also said that increased awareness and some degree of overdiagnosis may be contributing to the rising numbers.

The charity, in partnership with Nivea Sun, is advising the public to protect their skin ahead of the sunny weather.

Its recommendations include seeking shade between 11am and 3pm, covering up with clothing, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protection sunglasses, and using sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and four or five stars.

Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: “Sunburn is a clear sign your skin has been damaged.

“Whether you are enjoying being outside abroad or at home, it’s important to protect yourself from the sun.

“Sunburn doesn’t only happen when it’s hot – it can happen on cooler or cloudier days too.”

Rebecca Dance, a mother of two from Wokingham, Berkshire, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma at the age of 39.

She said: “My whole life flashed in front of me because I just thought ‘oh my God, I’ve got cancer’.

“I was panicked and upset.

“I tried to live life as normal as I could between the diagnosis and surgery, but it was weighing on my mind.

“I’m a single parent and my worst fear was dying.

“There’s this perception that skin cancer only happens to people who use sunbeds or sunbathe.

“But I’m a normal person that’s just got very pale skin and a lot of moles and it happened to me, too.”

Ms Dance urged others not to delay seeking medical advice.

She said: “Don’t delay speaking to your GP if you notice any changes – I believe it saved my life.”

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and can spread to other parts of the body if not treated early.

Symptoms to look out for include new moles or changes to existing ones, sores that do not heal, or any unusual marks on the skin.

Do you enjoy the warm weather? Let us know in the comments

Eligible families with three or more children will receive higher Universal Credit payments following the abolition of the two-child limit from April 6

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Families receiving Universal Credit are set to see increased payments this year following a significant rule change implemented last month, which abolished the longstanding two-child limit. The restriction preventing claims for support beyond two children was lifted on 6 April, meaning households will now receive the child element for every child in their care.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that while the change has already taken effect, owing to Universal Credit’s payment structure – with payments issued monthly – claimants will only notice the increase this month or in June.

The DWP stated the timing varies according to each claimant’s monthly assessment period, which dictates when Universal Credit is calculated and distributed.

Until now, most families could only claim the child element of Universal Credit for their first two children, unless they met certain exemptions, reports the Daily Record. This policy, referred to as the ‘two-child limit’, has now been scrapped.

Consequently, families with three or more children can now access additional monthly support for each subsequent child, boosting their total Universal Credit entitlement. The change applies throughout the Universal Credit system, benefiting both new and existing claimants.

The child element of Universal Credit is worth:

• £333.33 a month for a first child (born before April 6, 2017)
• £287.92 a month for each additional child

This means households will now be eligible to receive an additional £287.92 monthly for each extra child who was previously excluded from their claim. Annually, this amounts to over £3,400 per child.

While the policy amendment came into force from April 6, payments will only rise after a claimant completes the first full monthly assessment period following that date.

This means:

• Some households will see higher payments this month
• Others will not receive the increase until June

DWP guidance states that the exact timing will vary depending on individual payment cycles. There is no requirement to submit a fresh claim or contact DWP, as the amendments should be implemented automatically.

However, claimants are encouraged to review their Universal Credit statements to confirm the correct number of children are reflected in their award. Further information on how the changes operate, including eligibility and payment timings, is available on GOV.UK.

Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.   

Mr Amir Ahmed Bhatti, the former clinical lead for breast services at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), asked the High Court to overturn restrictions preventing him from treating patients.

But in a judgment handed down on May 11, Deputy High Court Judge Elizabeth O’Neill ruled the trust was entitled to keep the restrictions in place because of ongoing “serious safety and probity concerns”.

Mr Amir Bhatti (Image: SUPPLIED)

The case forms part of the fallout from a major investigation into the trust’s breast surgery service, launched after external reviews uncovered cases involving “missed cancers, unnecessary procedures and concerns about outdated clinical practices,” in what the report called “decade-long systemic failures”.

Mr Bhatti, who has worked for the trust since 2005, was first restricted from carrying out breast cancer surgery in February 2025 following concerns raised during the breast service investigation.

At that stage, he was still permitted to carry out general surgery and other clinical duties.

Darlington Memorial Hospital (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

However, the restrictions were widened in October 2025, preventing him from undertaking any clinical practice, including general surgery, outpatient work and multidisciplinary meetings.

The trust said the wider restrictions were necessary because some breast cancer patients had expressed concerns about encountering Mr Bhatti following publication of critical reports into the service.

In a letter quoted in the judgment, the trust referred to a “potential risk of psychological harm to patients who attend the Breast Service and may encounter you there”.

It also argued Mr Bhatti’s refusal to fully engage with retraining measures raised concerns about his professional judgment and insight. The trust told him, “Given the context surrounding the training plan, your refusal to engage is a serious concern.”

The High Court heard the problems within the breast service first came to light following a review by the Northern Cancer Alliance in June 2024.

A County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust sign (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

That report examined almost 700 breast surgery operations carried out by the trust and identified significant departures from national guidance and best practice.

One of the most serious incidents examined during proceedings involved a patient who underwent a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) test, which produced an inconclusive result.

No repeat biopsy was carried out, and the patient was later discharged before subsequently being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

Following that case, the trust banned the use of FNAs within breast services and introduced retraining requirements for breast surgeons.

In court, Nicola Newbegin and Annie Davis, representing Mr Bhatti, argued the trust had acted “irrationally” and “failed to properly follow NHS disciplinary procedures”.

They also argued there was no justification for preventing him from carrying out general surgery when the concerns related to breast services.

Judge O’Neill accepted there were questions about whether the October 2025 restrictions went too far, particularly because they extended into Mr Bhatti’s general surgery work.

“It is not clear how these concerns relate to the Claimant’s general surgery,” she wrote.

However, the judge said the key issue was the trust’s later decision in January 2026 to continue the restrictions after the investigation expanded and further concerns emerged.

Those concerns included allegations involving delayed diagnoses, patient discharge decisions, complaint handling and issues connected to private treatment arrangements.

The University Hospital of North Durham (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The trust also relied on findings from a later governance review, which criticised aspects of the breast service and raised concerns about oversight arrangements.

In refusing the application, Judge O’Neill said the trust was entitled to take a precautionary approach while investigations remained ongoing.

“The January 2026 Decision was based on serious safety and probity concerns,” she wrote, adding that the restrictions were considered necessary “to protect the interests of patients, whatever clinical context in which the Claimant was acting”.

The judge concluded there was “no serious issue to be tried” in relation to the trust’s decision to maintain the restrictions and ruled that “the application is refused”.

Responding to the ruling, CDDFT chief executive Steve Russell said: “We note the outcome of the recent High Court proceedings relating to breast surgeon Mr Amir Bhatti, which found in the Trust’s favour.

“The restrictions were introduced by the Trust on patient safety grounds while investigations and patient reviews continue. We continue to believe this was the right action in light of the patient experiences we have heard and continue to hear through the review process.”

Mr Russell added the trust recognised the case may cause “further distress for affected patients and families” and said it remained “deeply sorry for the worry and upset caused”.

He said “significant changes” had been made within breast services over the past year and that improvements were “now leading to better outcomes for patients”.

Mr Bhatti was ordered to pay the trust’s legal costs, assessed at £47,000.

He remains employed by the trust on full pay while the wider investigation continues.

A law firm representing patients affected by the ongoing breast surgery review at CDDFT welcomed the High Court’s decision.

Hayley Collinson, Hudgells (Image: Neil Holmes/Hudgells)

Responding to the ruling, solicitor Hayley Collinson, of Hudgell Solicitors, said the judgment reflected the seriousness of the concerns still under investigation.

“For Mr Bhatti to challenge the limitations on his practice, and expect to be reinstated by the Trust when he has failed to complete a full retraining programme, is concerning and suggests a lack of appreciation of the seriousness of the issues which have resulted in the ongoing investigations,” she said.

“We are pleased to see the decision of the High Court in this case.

“We continue to be contacted by patients of the Trust, and Mr Bhatti, who either have serious concerns over their treatment, have been told their care forms part of the review, or have been told they have been harmed.”

A quantity surveyor has been jailed after launching a savage and unprovoked attack on a teenage girl in Donegal.

Seamus Cooley repeatedly punched Shanan Reid McDaid in the face in a random assault on the 18-year-old in October 2017.

Cooley, who has had addresses at The Grange, Letterkenny and St Jude’s Court, Lifford, was sentenced to four years in prison by Judge John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The 51-year-old Cooley has 13 convictions, including 10 for public order matters, from the District Court and also one conviction for an aggravated assault from Northern Ireland.

The court heard that he walked off into the night after leaving his victim covered in blood at Castle Street, Letterkenny in the early hours of October 15, 2017.

The case was outlined to Ms Fiona Crawford BL, barrister for the State, by investigating Garda Neil Kemmy. Ms Reid McDaid had been out socialising with some friends and was walking up the Market Square to meet with friends. A man, now known to be Cooley was close by and he shouted some derogatory remarks to Ms Reid McDaid.

The victim reported that she noticed the man had stopped walking, but had continued to verbally taunt her. When she got within arm’s length of Cooley, he was facing her head-on and he stuck her to the face with a closed fist. Cooley rained a series of punches to Ms Reid McDaid’s face. The young woman estimated that she was struck eight to 10 times by Cooley.

“He just left,” she later told Gardai. Ms Reid McDaid was able to give a detailed description of her attacker to Gardai. A friend of Ms Reid McDaid told how the woman told her pals “I have been hit”. The man said that Ms Reid McDaid’s face “didn’t look real”.

Ms Reid McDaid was taken to hospital, where injuries were found including a suspected broken nose, two chipped teeth, a cut to the side of the head, a sore jaw as well as swelling and bruising to her face.

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A report from Mr Gerry Lane, a consultant in Letterkenny University Hospital, noted that the injuries were “entirely consistent with an assault”.

When Garda Kemmy saw the victim, her face and clothes were covered in blood, while he also noted chips to teeth and a cut to the side of her head.

CCTV was harvested and Cooley was identified by members of An Garda Síochána. A search warrant was obtained and executed at Cooley’s home, where a jacket was found and forensically analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. Blood staining with a profile matching the victim was located.

When he was interviewed by Gardai, Cooley was said to have been “extremely derogatory” towards Ms Reid McDaid and also to other women. He claimed to Gardai that she was a liar and outlined that forensics was “all nonsense”. He said the allegation against him was “bullshit” and claimed that the Gardai were planting evidence.

Cooley denied the attack and pointed the finger at another man when he was shown CCTV. “I am innocent and done nothing wrong,” he told Gardai, while he said he was prejudiced and discriminated against.

In a victim impact statement, which was read out by Ms Crawford, Ms Reid McDaid said that a night out in her home town with friends turned into a “life-altering event that had a lasting impact”. She told how she required dental intervention and was in pain for months afterwards.

Ms Reid McDaid said she suffered from physical injuries and was also at a significant financial loss, but said the most devastating impact was the emotional trauma. She told the court that she has had symptoms of PTSD and panic attacks, triggered by minor incidents.

“My body is stuck in a constant state of fight or flight,” she said, adding that she has avoided social settings and felt afraid in her own community.

The incident occurred just as she was starting university. She said that NUIG were “extremely supportive”, but she “always felt a few steps behind.

What made her ideal even harder was that it took almost eight years for Cooley to take accountability – something that made her feel as if justice was being denied.

“I had to carry the weight of it for so long,” she said. It made me angry, resentful and deeply frustrated.”

Ms Reid McDiad recalled how Cooley engaged with one of her social media platforms after she moved to Australia. This, she said, “deeply unsettled me and reopened old wounds.”

At this point, she feared that she “might not ever be truly free from his presence or reach” and noted the toll the matter took on her family.

Mr James McGowan SC, with Mr Senan Crawford BL, instructed by solicitor Conor Moylan of Madden and Finucane, represented Cooley.Mr McGowan said his client was bullied and troubled at home as a child. He said his childhood was “traumatic” and outlined difficulties with his parents

He said that Cooley reported that the atmosphere was “bad much of the time” and said Cooley, a qualified quantity surveyor, suffered from depression and had suicidal ideations.

Mr McGowan told the court that Cooley’s father died in 2017 and his client was binge drinking thereafter, suffering from a lot of anger and depression.

The incident for which he was before the court happened four months after the death of his father. Mr McGowan added that Cooley has since stopped drinking and his anger has “come down” since going sober. He said that Cooley reported that he “finally copped on”.

The court heard that Cooley had been subjected to some “distressing incidents”. Mr McGowan said there had been attacks on his home and car, while he was targeted by “intimidation and abuse” on social media. Mr McGowan said that Cooley is finding prison “difficult”.

Cooley offered €2,500 to the victim, but she did not wish to accept it, the court was informed. In sentencing Cooley, Judge Aylmer said the maximum penalty for such an offence at the time of its commission was five years in prison.

Judge Aylmer said this was a “random attack in the early hours of the morning on a lone, young female on her way home from a night out”.

Judge Aylmer said that the victim sustained a “very violent physical attack” and said she was “extremely fortunate” not to have suffered more serious physical injuries.

He noted the “appalling psychological impact” suffered by Ms Reid McDaid who he said “will be left suffering that impact for a very significant time to come.”

The appropriate headline sentence, Judge Aylmer said, was one of four and a half years in prison “This is very much on the upper end of the scale,” the judge said.

An albeit late guilty plea had to be given credit, while Judge Aylmer noted that Cooley has a “very complex psychological history”.

The mitigating factors were few, Judge Aylmer said, but he added that the accused had come to a realisation in 2025 and said it appeared as if he is now angered in “better self-regulation”. The judge told Cooley: “It better continue”.

Judge Aylmer took account of the offer of compensation, but said: “I would consider it to be far short of a true concrete demonstration of remorse from a quantity surveyor whose business has continued”.

Judge Aylmer reduced the sentence to one of four years in prison with credit to be given for all time spent in custody.

Last June, Cooley was remanded in custody after being found to have breached conditions of his bail when he appeared at Cavan Circuit Court.

In remanding Cooley in custody, Judge Aylmer said that Cooley “displayed arrogance” and showed a “flagrant disregard” for bail conditions previously set by the court.

Under the terms of his bail, Cooley was due to sign-on three times a week at Buncrana Garda Station, but he had only an 82 per cent adherence.

Cooley told the Gardai that he was happy with the amount of times he was signing on and that he was happy to sign on when it suited him. He told Gardai that he started working throughout the country and it “didn’t suit him some days” to sign on.

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