Man charged with causing almost €9,000 worth of damage to new hospital in Letterkenny
Court denies bail to a Derry-linked man over fears of immediate reoffending driven by severe addiction issues.
A man has been charged with causing nearly €9,000 worth of damage to a new hospital in Letterkenny.
Matthew Gallagher was brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court on Friday afternoon.
Gallagher, a 26-year-old of no fixed abode, is alleged to have caused €8,850 worth of damage to a building at the new Letterkenny Community Nursing Unit,
A total of 24 windows were smashed as well as three glass doors, eight toilets and cisterns and three porcelain sinks.
The first 25 beds in the facility are expected to come on stream by the end of 2026.
The 110-bed community healthcare facility, located on the Letterkenny University Hospital campus, is expected to complete construction in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Once fully operational, the three-storey residential care facility will include four 25-bed households and a dedicated 10-bed dementia unit.
Garda Kerry Leneghan gave evidence of arresting Gallagher at 6.46pm on May 28, 2026 for the purpose of charge. At 6.48pm, Garda Leneghan charged Gallagher and he made no reply. At 11.27am on May 29, 2026, Gallagher was further charged and again he made no reply, the court heard.
He is a very unwell man. He is a man who will require assistance.
An alarm was activated at the Boyle Construction site on Kilmacrennan Road, Letterkenny at 9.57pm on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Gardai attended the scene and walked through the building in the company of the site foreman.
CCTV was viewed and Gallagher was positively identified as the suspect.
The court was told that Gallagher appeared outside Letterkenny Garda Station at 4.35am on May 28, 2026 swinging a set of aluminium playwell martial arts nunchucks. Gallagher struck a parked vehicle, a grey Ford Transit belonging to Foroige and was arrested for criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. Gallagher was released and immediately re-arrested in connection with the incident at the new hospital and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
He faces a charge of criminal damage. He is charged that on May 27, 2026 at Boyle Construction, Kilmacrennan Road, Letterkenny, he did damage property, to wit, 24 windows, 4 glass doors, 8 toilets and 3 sinks valued at €8,850, belonging to Boyle Construction Limited.
The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the criminal Damage Act, 1991.
Gallagher is also charged that on May 28, 2026 at Newline Road, Letterkenny, he did have in his custody or under his control, aluminium Playwell Martial Arts nunchucks intending to use to damage property, to wit, a grey Ford Transit belonging to Foroige National Youth Development. This charge is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1991.
He is also charged with damaging the van in question.
Gallagher is also charged on May 27, 2026 at Newline Road, Letterkenny, with having €120 worth of cannabis in his possession. This charge is contrary to section 3 of the Misuse of drugs act, 1997.
Garda Leneghan said there was an objection to Gallagher being granted bail due to the strength of the evidence and the seriousness of the charges. Garda Leneghan outlined concerns that Gallagher would commit further serious offences if he was admitted to bail.
I am satisfied that there is a risk of reoffending if bail is granted. Unfortunate for the accused, he seems to be currently burdened by an addiction.
The court was informed that Gallagher has been living in Derry recently. Due to the value of the damage and the seriousness of the charges, gardai raised concerns that Gallagher could attempt to evade justice by fleeing across the border.
The accused man’s solicitor, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said that his client had an address in Letterkenny which he could offer as part of bail conditions, but this was refuted by Garda Leneghan, who added that further charges are anticipated,
“He is a very unwell man,” the solicitor said. “He is a man who will require assistance.”
Mr Gallagher said that his client does not have a bench warrant history and Gardai have never had to seek a European Arrest Warrant to being him to this jurisdiction.
Mr Gallagher asked the court to grant bail with strict conditions.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told Judge Daly that Gallagher’s “repeated involvement with drugs seems to exacerbate his situation”. He added that the alleged damage to the hospital site was “quite substantial”.
Judge Daly said that Gallagher does enjoy the presumption of innocence. While the bail objection under the O’Callaghan Rules (the likelihood of Gallagher attempting to evade justice) did not “hold water”, Judge Daly said she was persuaded by the application under section 2 of the Bail Act, 1997.
“I am satisfied that there is a risk of reoffending if bail is granted,” Judge Daly said. “Unfortunate for the accused, he seems to be currently burdened by an addiction.”
Judge Daly said it was apparent that Gallagher is “not in control of his conduct” and was, therefore, satisfied that that she had grounds to refuse bail.
Gallagher was remanded in custody and Judge Daly granted an application by the defendant’s solicitor to have him immediately assessed by an appropriate medical practitioner.