Patient became abusive to hospital workers

The behaviour of a patient who shouted abuse at hospital staff and other patients on two different dates was “totally unacceptable in one of the country’s busiest hospitals”, Galway District Court was told.

Mark Lovell of Fairgreen Hostel pleaded guilty to ten Public Order offences on various dates between June 23 and mid September last. The State withdrew two of the charges.

On each of the dates, he was found to be highly intoxicated and very abusive to Gardaí. On one occasion he fell to the street, and after being stood upright, fell back down again due to his drunkenness.

On one of those occasions he was abusive to patients and staff in the Emergency Department of University Hospital Galway and even kicked the wall, pulling a monitor off its bracket.

Another time, on August 25, he was brought by ambulance to the ED where he refused treatment. Two days later he was lying on the ground on the island at the junction outside the hospital on Newcastle Road and could barely walk with intoxication.

Defending solicitor, Brian Gilmartin said he believed his client, who had 21 previous convictions, was making progress on addressing his alcohol problem — that was according to his case worker from the Simon Community.

Judge Mary Fahy said she wasn’t happy with him at all and that his behaviour in one of the busiest hospitals in the country was unacceptable.

However, she did agree to remand him on bail and put the case back to February 4 for a Court Probation Report on the grounds he stay away from the hospital.