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Dunmanway man warned over his behaviour at Mercy A&E

January 23rd, 2019 11:55 AM

By Southern Star Team

Mercy University Hospital, Cork.

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A District Court judge has warned a 51-year-old Dunmanway man that if he continues with his behaviour, he will end up in jail.

A DISTRICT Court judge has warned a 51-year-old Dunmanway man that if he continues with his behaviour, he will end up in jail.

Hospital staff have a hard enough job without having to deal with insulting behaviour at A&E, he said.

Judge Olann Kelleher was addressing defendant Oliver White, with a current address at 32B Fair Street, Mallow, at Cork District Court last week.

‘People in the Mercy and CUH have a terrible time and you refused to stop this behaviour for staff. If this continues in the future you will end up in jail,’ he said.

‘It is not fair to staff at the A&E who are doing their best in difficult circumstances,’ he said.

And Judge Kelleher added: ‘For people who cause trouble in A&E the court inevitably sends them to jail.’

Oliver White, represented by Eddie Burke solicitor, asked to address the court directly and then said: ‘It was not my intention to have any altercation, it just happened. 

‘If I may say something else, when things happen and you are in a lot of pain, you react in a way you would not otherwise react. You might not have your awareness about you.’

Sgt John Kelleher said that on Sunday June 3rd last, following a disturbance at the Mercy University Hospital A&E, gardaí were called.

‘On arrival, Garda William Hanley observed Oliver White being restrained by two members of security. He was very agitated and roaring abuse at all present. He refused to desist. 

‘A&E was quite busy at that time and a number of people entered the department and left as Mr White continued to be abusive,’ he said.

The defendant was arrested, and although he pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, his solicitor said the accused was not threatening to anyone.

‘While he was abusive, there was no threat to any member of staff. There is a subtle difference. He was unable to get off the trolley because of the pains in his feet,’ Mr Burke said.

The judge fined Mr White €200.

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