A man who attacked a number of motorists who were stuck in a traffic jam in Letterkenny after he had just been released from prison has been remanded in custody.
Francis McConnell appeared by videolink before Letterkenny District Court this morning.
It follows a series of incidents on Tuesday during which motorists were attacked in their cars in Letterkenny.
A number of motorists sitting in their cars at Oldtown Bridge had their vehicles attacked just after 7.30pm.
Although nobody was physically injured during the attacks, a number of motorists queued in traffic had their vehicles damaged.
McConnell, aged 30, of no fixed abode but from Letterkenny, was arrested a short time later by Gardai after an alleged assault close to a McDonald’s fast-food outlet in the town.
He was still wearing his grey prison tracksuit when arrested and brought to Letterkenny Garda station where he was detained.
The accused appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty where he was charged with criminal damage of a number of cars, assault and public order offences.
Solicitor for the accused Patsy Gallagher again asked for all the necessary medical treatment to be given to his client.
Mr Gallagher claimed “My client tried to get psychiatric help when he was released from prison yesterday morning but it is my understanding that he was refused.”
Judge Gearty agreed to adjourn the case and remand McConnell in custody until next Thursday, August 15th to allow for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
She commented “This has been a very serious sequence and again we have separation of responsibilities – this is a very difficult situation where prison service approached it in a certain way and health services saw it differently.”