Man who allegedly made ‘menacing calls’ to Donegal garda station wants phone back

A man who allegedly bombarded a Donegal garda station with menacing, abusive and offensive phone calls has appeared in court looking for his phones back.

Tony Ward was arrested on August 14 last year at his home in Creeslough.

The 61-year-old is charged that between February 2, 2024 and August 11, 2024, he did, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another person, persistently made telephone calls to another person without reasonable cause, to wit, An Garda Síochána, Milford.

This charge is contrary to Section 13 (1b) and Section 13 (2) of the Post Office Amendment Act, 1951.

As part of the investigation, Gardai seized two mobile phones and an electronic tablet belonging to the accused.

The investigation into the alleged offences are ongoing and two books of evidence are awaited in the case.

Ward is also charged that between February 27th, 2024 and August 11th, 2024, he (i) did send by means of the telecommunications system operated by a licensed operator a message or other matter which was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, (ii) did send by means of the telecommunications system operated by a licensed operator for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needles anxiety to another person, a message which you knew to be false; (iii) did persistently make use of the telecommunications system operated by a licensed operator for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another person.

This charge is Contrary to Section 13 (1) of the Post Office Amendment Act, 1951.

But now Ward has instructed his solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, to recover his devices.

Mr Dorrian told Falcarragh District Court that his client has been without his devices for months since they were seized by Gardai at Ward's home at Muckish Terrace in Creeslough.

Mr Dorrian said his client could live without the tablet, but that one of the phones was almost new when it was seized by Gardai.

He added that surely whatever information Gardai are looking for from the devices must have been recovered by now.

Garda Inspector Seamus McMonigle stressed that the phones seized are primary evidence in the trial.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said he will make enquiries on the issue and come back to the court.

Judge Brendan O'Reilly adjourned the case until October 6 for an update.