A Letterkenny man has been given a suspended jail sentence after showing in courtroom on 31 expenses stretching again to so far as 2010.
Patrick McCafferty appeared at Buncrana District Courtroom sitting at Letterkenny Courthouse earlier than Decide Eiteain Cunningham.
Most of the litany of expenses had been introduced beneath the Public Order Act after the now 44-year-old accused man was drunk.
In addition to being arrested for being drunk and disorderly, McCafferty’s different expenses included the theft of eight cans of beer, the theft of a transportable radio, trespassing, possession of a knife and quite a lot of expenses referring to not showing in courtroom which resulted in bench warrants being issued for his look.
The courtroom was instructed that McCafferty had no different earlier convictions earlier than the prolonged record of expenses had been produced.
Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle took a substantial time frame to learn out all the small print of the costs earlier than the courtroom.
The fees vary in dates from 2010 to 2019.
The accused man, with an handle at Riverside Residences at Pearse Street in Letterkenny, was represented in courtroom by solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian.
Mr Dorrian outlined his shopper’s circumstances and detailed how McCafferty had suffered for undiagnosed psychological well being points for quite a lot of years.
He mentioned his shopper was seen as a “wild man round city” however this was on account of pursuing an agenda which he himself didn’t perceive.
Mr Dorrian addressed the assorted expenses and defined he was sleeping within the stairwell of an condo block which he had beforehand been allowed to remain in.
In relation to a cost of possession of a knife, the solicitor defined this was on account of folks making enjoyable of his shopper and described it as “a lame sufficient defence mechanism” and that “he by no means meant to go to any violence on them.”
He mentioned the consumption of alcohol coupled along with his psychological well being points had left McCafferty in varied states of disarray across the city the place he was rambling and shouting on the public for no obvious cause.
Nonetheless, Mr Dorrian added that his shopper had introduced in courtroom in a docile method and was in a standard way of thinking and that there was no query over his “cognitive potential.”
The courtroom heard that the accused man was now receiving month-to-month injections for suspected Schizophrenia and this had had a vastly optimistic and calming impact on him.
He had obtained housing from the council and he now spent his days tidying his house, watching tv and was now one thing of a recluse.
The Gardai had additionally confirmed that McCafferty had not come to their consideration since he had been final arrested in 2019.
“He was beneath such a cloud of issue however he has come a good distance and is as placid and delicate particular person as you may meet and bears no unwell will,” added Mr Dorrian.
Decide Cunningham requested for a while to learn medical experiences and think about her judgement.
When she returned, she mentioned she had noticed Mr McCafferty over his two days in courtroom and that “he appears to be in a a lot better place.”
She accepted he has had his difficulties over a interval of years and so they had been principally on account of psychological well being points and his dependancy to alcohol.
Nonetheless, she mentioned he had made “important strides” via getting lodging and having month-to-month injections.
She additionally mentioned she was impressed by the truth that he had not come to Garda consideration in recent times.
She sentenced McCafferty to 6 months in jail however suspended that sentence for 18 months given that he be of fine behaviour and doesn’t reoffend.
As he signed his bond, Decide Cunningham inspired McCafferty to proceed along with his treatment and his efforts.
‘Wild man’ with 31 expenses given likelihood after courtroom hears he has modified was final modified: February twenty eighth, 2024 by
