Gardaí investigate claim that hospital staff member attacked colleague with syringe

A criminal investigation is taking place following an incident at the Psychiatric Unit in University Hospital Galway in which one staff member is accused of stabbing a colleague with a hypodermic needle during working hours.

A man in his 30s was arrested by Gardai following the incident which is said to have occurred on Sunday afternoon at the Psychiatric Unit.

The female employee, a 26 year old from the Headford area, claims to have been stabbed in the back with the syringe in an unprovoked attack. She attended the Emergency Department at UHG following the incident where she received treatment before being discharged.

It is understood that the HSE West are carrying out an internal investigation into how this incident occurred. Management have warned staff not to talk to the media about the incident which is alleged to have occurred at around 4.30 pm on Sunday.

Gardai in Galway have confirmed that they received a report of an incident in the Psychiatric Unit at UHG and in a follow-up investigation a man was arrested and questioned. A statement was taken and the man was released while further inquiries are taking place.

While the two individuals worked together, it is believed that they were not particularly close and other staff are in a state of disbelief over what happened and the reasons behind the alleged stabbing.

The man at the centre of the investigation has been suspended from duties while the woman is still recovering from her injuries and has not returned to work. She is continuing to assist Gardai with their inquiries.

For more on this story, see the print edition of the Connacht Tribune.