Suspended sentence for hospital disorderly
A woman who spat and kicked hospital staff in the accident and emergency department of Altnagelvin Hospital has received a suspended jail sentence.
Nuala Carton, of Shipquay Street, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour on May 19.
Derry Magistrate’s Court heard police were at the hospital dealing with an unrelated matter when they were approached by staff.
They reported that 49-year-old Carton was being aggressive and abusive.
She had spat at and kicked members of staff after she had received treatment.
Carton also began shouting and swearing in the waiting room of the accident and emergency department. Police warned her to moderate her behaviour. However, Carton was arrested because she continued to shout and swear.
Defence solicitor, Paddy MacDermott said this was ‘quite a disgraceful incident’.
He told the court Carton regretted her behaviour and wished to apologise.
The solicitor added that his client had no previous history of behaving like this in the hospital.
Mr MacDermott said the defendant had a number of issues and when she consumed alcohol this ‘causes her problems’.
Suspending a four month sentence for two years, District Judge Barney McElholm warned Carton if she ‘misbehaves in public again she will find it very, very difficult to avoid an immediate custodial sentence’.