Man appeared under the influence of drugs in Glenties court

A 24-year-old man with no previous convictions appeared under the influence of drugs when he appeared before Judge Paul Kelly at Glenties District Court yesterday.
Shane McDonnell admitted theft, public order offences and drugs possession and the court was told he was addicted to cannabis and alcohol.
Judge Kelly, who expressed concern about McDonnell’s condition in court, said he suspected he was addicted to more than cannabis.
Defence solicitor Patsy Gallagher indicated that he agreed with the judge.
McDonnell, of Glen Road, Glenties, but with an address also in
Letterkenny, admitted possession of €50 of herbal cannabis, the theft
of two bottles of wine worth €16.33 from a Tesco shop in Letterkenny,
and being drunk on a number of occasions.
The offences were on dates between January and October last year
in Letterkenny and Glenties.
Supt Michael Finnan told the court that that in one offence, gardai were called to a disturbance at Letterkenny General Hospital. There they found McDonnell lying at the roundabout at the main entrance, asleep on the ground.   On another occasion he was walking in the middle of the High Road, Letterkenny, drunk and unaware of his surroundings.
In Glenties gardai found him at 5.20 a.m. lying on a grass verge beside the road, semi-conscious and completely unaware of his surroundings.
Judge Kelly remanded McDonnell in custody overnight at Letterkenny
Garda station, with an arrangement that he first be given medical attention at Glenties Garda station.   McDonnell will appear again today at Letterkenny
District Court when the judge said he hoped to order a Probation report and find out if the BillW counselling centre in Donegal would be able to provide assistance.