Dangerous Ulster thug on bail in Ayr

A vicious Ulster thug who was deemed too violent for Maghaberry jail in Ulster has been bailed to live in Ayr. Patrick Francis Joseph McDonagh (40) spent almost a decade locked up in a top security mental hospital in Scotland because he was branded "too dangerous for Ulster's jails". McDonagh was detained under an indefinite hospital order in November 1998 after a court was told that, armed with a Bowie knife and replica gun, he committed a series of tacks on the public, inmates and jail staff.

Last week three senior judges decided to grant violent McDonagh bail on condition that he left Northern Ireland and returned to an address agreed with police in Ayr, Scotland. He was also ordered to stay away from children.

After proving too violent for the Ulster system McDonagh was moved to Carstairs high security hospital and remained there until June 2006. He was then moved to a clinic in Ayr.

But last month the Court of Appeal quashed the hospital orders. Judges ruled that McDonagh's case should not have fallen under the Mental Health Order.

In the judgment they ruled that the hospital orders be substituted by sentences for GBH, aggravated burglary and attempted murder. Then they granted McDonagh bail, pending reports. He was bailed to an address in Ayr and must stay away from children and playgrounds, remain away from alcohol and report to Strathclyde police three times a week.