Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 18081Public order offences; theft; trespass; possession of a knife; failure to appear in court · Co. Donegal

Suspended jail sentence for Letterkenny man on 31 charges

Patrick McCafferty, a 44-year-old man from Letterkenny, Donegal, appeared at Buncrana District Court sitting at Letterkenny Courthouse on 29 February 2024 to face 31 charges dating from 2010 to 2019, including public order offences, theft of eight cans of beer and a portable radio, trespass, possession of a knife, and failure to appear in court. Many of the charges were brought under the Public Order Act after he was drunk. Judge Eiteain Cunningham sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months on condition of good behaviour and not reoffending. McCafferty had no previous convictions and had suffered from undiagnosed mental health issues, including suspected schizophrenia, for a number of years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
Where
His address was Riverside Apartments at Pearse Road in Letterkenny.
When
The charges ranged in dates from 2010 to 2019.
Charges
  • He faced 31 charges including public order offences, theft of eight cans of beer, theft of a portable radio, trespass, possession of a knife, and failure to appear in court resulting in bench warrants.
  • Many of the charges were brought under the Public Order Act after he was drunk.
In court
He appeared at Buncrana District Court sitting at Letterkenny Courthouse before Judge Eiteain Cunningham on 29 February 2024, represented by solicitor Frank Dorrian.
Sentence
Judge Cunningham sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months on condition of good behaviour and not reoffending.
Other details
  • McCafferty had no previous convictions before the 31 charges.
  • He had suffered from undiagnosed mental health issues for a number of years and was receiving monthly injections for suspected schizophrenia.
  • He had been sleeping in the stairwell of an apartment block where he had previously been allowed to stay.
  • He had obtained housing from the council and had not come to Garda attention since his last arrest in 2019.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereHis address was Riverside Apartments at Pearse Road in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe charges ranged in dates from 2010 to 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe faced 31 charges. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMany of the charges were brought under the Public Order Act after he was drunk. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeCharges included the theft of eight cans of beer. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeCharges included the theft of a portable radio. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeCharges included possession of a knife. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeSeveral charges related to not appearing in court, resulting in bench warrants. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtPatrick McCafferty appeared at Buncrana District Court sitting at Letterkenny Courthouse before Judge Eiteain Cunningham. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHe was represented by solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtGarda Sergeant Maurice Doyle read out the details of the charges. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Cunningham sentenced him to six months in prison. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was suspended for 18 months on condition of good behaviour and not reoffending. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherMcCafferty had no previous convictions before the 31 charges. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherMcCafferty had suffered from undiagnosed mental health issues for a number of years. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHe was sleeping in the stairwell of an apartment block where he had previously been allowed to stay. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHe was receiving monthly injections for suspected schizophrenia. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHe had obtained housing from the council. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHe had not come to Garda attention since his last arrest in 2019. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Feb2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Suspended jail sentence for Letterkenny man in court on 31 charges

    Reports the sentencing of Patrick McCafferty on 31 charges at Buncrana District Court sitting at Letterkenny Courthouse before Judge Eiteain Cunningham, with a six-month suspended sentence for 18 months.

    convicted, Patrick McCafferty, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick McCafferty