Derry Court: Man jailed for hospital assault on nurse

An assault on a nurse in Altnagelvin Hospital resulted in a man being jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

Kieran Kelly (24) of Barr's Lane in Derry admitted a charge of assault on the nurse on November 27 last.

The court heard that police were called to a report of an aggressive male who had become violent at 2.30am.

Kelly had been brought in unconscious but had regained consciousness and tried to get off a bed he was on.

Kelly was unsteady on his feet and the nurse tried to get Kelly to lie down again.

Kelly then swung a punch at the nurse's head but missed striking him on the chest.

Police decided not to arrest Kelly due to his medical condition but the next day he left the hospital without being discharged.

When arrested Kelly said he had no memory of the incident but added that he had done similar things in the past.

He said he wanted to apologise to the nurse.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said it was 'a bad enough case' having taken place in the hospital.

He said that his client had shown 'immediate and genuine remorse' and was very apologetic.

The solicitor said that Kelly had no intention of hurting a nurse who was trying to help him.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that Kelly had been given a chance by being given suspended sentences and he had 'rewarded' the court by assaulting a nurse.

The judge said that it had been made clear that this sort of behaviour towards medical staff 'will not be tolerated by the courts'.

He added that not only did nurses suffer from 'disgraceful' pay they were subjected to assaults like this.

He sentenced Kelly to a total of 8 months in prison.