Emptied contents of a vacuum cleaner on floor

Initially, he was ‘puzzled’ by the items of rubbish he found in the surgery, believing it must have been a child ‘messing’, but it became ‘relentless.’

‘I had to explain to patients that something was going on and I couldn’t do anything about it, and they were understanding,’ he said.

The estimated total cost of the damage, in a case described by a judge as ‘bizarre’, was €500, which has now been repaid.

Garda O’Carolan gave evidence that a number of the incidents occured while Dr Dolan was holding consultations with his patients, who did not witness Callely’s actions.

Defending solicitor Noel O’Hanrahan said these actions were ‘alien to the character of Mr Callely’ and said it was an ‘extremely stupid act, driven by the horrific time he was going through’.

Mr O’Hanrahan said Callely had ‘flipped’, as he is ‘financially broke’ and is going through the breakdown of his marriage.

He said he had already suffered adverse media attention, and now faced ‘further humiliation’ by the press for his actions, which is a ‘severe penalty in itself’.