A 51 year-old man who assaulted two pregnant nurses calling one of the women a ‘whore’ and a ‘bitch’ was today jailed for five months.
Patrick Farren, of Stoneburn Place, was convicted of two counts of indictable assault, disorderly behaviour, common assault, criminal damage and smoking in a smoke free place, namely Altnagelvin Hospital.
The offences were committed on January 31, 2014.
The court heard that police were called to an ongoing disturbance at the A&E Department at Altnagelvin Hospital by staff.
Farren had arrived at A&E at 3am in a ‘highly agitated state’ telling staff he felt suicidal.
Farren, who was ‘highly intoxicated’ shouted and swore at staff and despite being warned by a nurse, who was seven months pregnant, to stop it, he continued saying, ‘I’ll shout wherever the f*** I want’.
Despite further requests from the pregnant nurse not to smoke in the hospital due to rules and the dangers posed because of the use of oxygen by patients in the vicinity, Farren lit up a cigarette.
He shouted and sore at the nurse and also began to shout ‘right into the face’ of a second pregnant nurse saying, ‘You’re a f****** whore, you’re f****** a bitch’.
Deputy District Judge Anne Marshall said Farren had an ‘appalling criminal record’ with 165 convictions.
 

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