Man charged with machete possession and thefts cannot secure bail surety

A 45‑year‑old man, John Ward, has told a judge he cannot obtain an independent surety and therefore cannot meet the bail conditions set for his case.

Ward, who has addresses in Letterkenny, County Donegal and Tuam, County Galway, was brought from Castlerea Prison to Ballyshannon District Court with consent to bail. He faces a range of offences, including possession of a 16‑inch machete and multiple thefts totalling over €1,100.

Garda Sergeant Oliver Devaney said bail has been offered but Ward has not taken it up because he cannot find a surety. The judge, Éiteáin Cunningham, noted the surety requirement was imposed by a previous judge and that Ward would need to apply to the High Court to have the terms varied.

Sergeant Devaney added that an objection would be lodged if Ward’s wife were proposed as a surety. The charges include unlawful possession of a machete under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990, public intoxication under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, and several theft offences under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, involving diesel, food, alcohol and tobacco stolen from various shops in Donegal.

Ward was remanded in custody with consent to bail to Sligo District Court on 12 November.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Michael Saffle / Pexels.