Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
A man accused of breaching a sexual offences prevention order by ‘disinhibiting’ himself through the use of alcohol has been granted bail.
Richard McFarland, 53, whose address was given as Lawrence Hill, appeared in court charged with breaching the terms of his Sexual Offences Protection Order (SOPO) and possession of Class B drug Cannabis on January 31.
Objecting to bail, a police officer said she doesn’t believe the defendant will abide by any conditions.
McFarland is currently awaiting sentencing in relation to five other breaches of the same order and has an ‘extensive history’ with 26 breaches in total.
She said he continues to use alcohol and it acts as a ‘dis-inhibitor’.
A small amount of Cannabis was found on McFarland in custody.
“Given any window of opportunity he will continue to offend. He has breached court bail on several occasions and committed the current breaches while on bail,” the police officer added.
The officer suggested supervised accommodation is the best option.
The PSNI raised ‘serious concerns’ about him being released.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said five or six breaches of his SOPO were dealt with in November when a prison sentence was imposed.
The court heard that the sentence is being appealed at a court sitting on March 3.
Mr Quigley said the defendant blew a ‘low reading’ of 37mg per 100ml of breath.
He accepted the no alcohol conditions was in place because it is a dis-inhibitor and that his client has an ‘appalling record’.
Deputy District Judge McStay said breaches of the SOPO are frequent and severe in the sense he received a prison sentence for a number of those in Crown Court.
He added that McFarland ‘ultimately has a sentence to be dealt with in March’ and accepts the breaches.
Judge McStay said it was not a high reading and there was no further offending.
The judge said he would give the 52-year-old ‘one opportunity’ and released on him the same terms.
McFarland must reside at Lawrence Hill and abide by the terms of his SOPO.
He will appear in court again on March 8 after his appeal hearing.
New self-catering units approved for Bellaghy Bawn
A worker pictured removing part of the box junction markings back in July. Photo: Damien Sweeney
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
