Ballybofey man found ‘roaring and shouting’ outside psychiatric department
A BALLYBOFEY man who had to be arrested by gardaí after being found “shouting and roaring” outside the Department of Psychiatry at Letterkenny University Hospital has had a probation bond imposed.
John McGinty (49), Meenavoy, Ballybofey, was before Letterkenny District Court on Monday on drink driving and public order charges relating to two separate incidents.
Letterkenny District Court heard how on February 13, 2024 on the Port Road, Letterkenny, gardaí observed a vehicle “swinging over the road”.
Gardaí stopped the vehicle and spoke to its driver, McGinty. A breathalyser reading returned a reading of 75100 breath.
McGinty was fully apologetic and cooperative, the court was told.
On April 11, 2025, gardaí received a report of a male shouting and roaring outside the psychiatric department of LUH, threatening other persons and gardaí.
“When he sobered up he was apologetic,” Sergeant Jim Collins told the court.
McGinty has two previous convictions dating back to 2012.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client was a “very unwell man from a mental health point of view”.
“He sought mental health treatment and is on the straight and narrow now.”
Mr Gallagher told the court that his client has been engaging with Probation Services, which “has been good for him”.
Judge Emile Daly disqualified McGinty from driving for three years. She also imposed a probation bond for one year to assist McGinty in “creating a scaffold to protect him”.
Judge Daly ordered McGinty to engage with the Mental Health team, take his medication and to remain alcohol free.