Tony Ward was brought before Letterkenny District Court by Gardaí after being charged with a number of offences.

The charges relate to calls made to Milford Garda Station in the last six months.

Garda Adam Daly said he arrested Ward, aged 60, at his home in Muckish Terrace, Creeslough, last Wednesday, August 14.

He was accused of several crimes, but he did not respond.

He was brought before Judge Deirdre Gearty, where the gardaí said they had no objection to bail.

Ward is charged with, between 2 February 2024 and 11 August 2024, repeatedly phoning another person without reasonable grounds with intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience or distress to another person, at An Garda Síochána, Milford, Co Donegal.

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

Ward is also charged with, between February 27, 2024 and August 11, 2024, (i) sending through the telecommunications system operated by a licensed operator a message or other matter that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing nature; (ii) sending through the telecommunications system operated by a licensed operator a message that he knew to be false with the intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another person; (iii) persistently using the telecommunications system operated by a licensed operator with the intent to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another person.

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

The defendant is also charged with having in his possession a controlled drug, namely herbal cannabis, at Muckish Terrace, Creeslough, on 14 August.

Garda Sergeant Gerard Dalton said the Garda had no objection to bail but asked Judge Gearty to impose a number of conditions on the accused.

This included that Ward should refrain from contacting Milford Police Station directly and should only call 999 in emergencies.

He was also ordered not to use abusive or offensive language if he needs to call the emergency services on 999.

Gardaí also asked the court to ensure that Ward does not drink alcohol, to which he replied: “How can I do that, I am an alcoholic?”

The defendant’s attorney, Frank Murphy, said he accepted his client’s bail conditions but did not know how they would be monitored.

The case was adjourned to the next sitting of Falcarragh District Court for instructions from the Attorney General.

Ward was granted legal aid after Mr Murphy informed the court that his client was unemployed.