Man accused of making menacing calls to Garda station wants his phones back

Stephen Maguire

A man who allegedly bombarded a Co 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 14th last year at his home in Creeslough.

The 61-year-old is charged that between February 2nd, 2024, and August 11th, 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, Co Donegal.

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

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

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

But now Ward has instructed his solicitor, 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 gardaí 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 gardaí.

He added that surely whatever information gardaí 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 6th for an update.