Man charged with assaulting ambulance worker remanded
Emmett Byrne (29) of no fixed abode was arrested on October 1 after police were called to Altnagelvin hospital about a patient that was acting aggressively
A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court has said he was 'not going to have our ambulance workers threatened and intimidated' as he remanded a man in custody man has for assault on a ambulance worker.
Emmett Byrne (29) of no fixed abode was arrested on October 1 after police were called to Altnagelvin hospital about a patient that was acting aggressively.
The court heard that Byrne had been picked up by an ambulance due to concerns about his condition.
While in the ambulance, Byrne was said to have attempted to intimidate the staff, eventually lunging at them but missing and having to be restrained.
Byrne was found to be intoxicated at the time, leading to further charges for breaching bail conditions.
Police objected to bail as they believe he is at high risk of reoffending as he has 94 previous convictions.
A police officer said that the defendant had been released in mid September from custody and had re-offended within days.
Defense Barrister Seamus Lannon argued that giving people such as Byrne bail conditions that prohibited alcohol was almost 'setting him up to fail', asking instead for a condition of not being intoxicated in public.
District Judge Barney McElhom denied bail and remanded Byrne in custody to appear again on October 31.