Suspended sentence for woman who assaulted two Altnagelvin Hospital staff members

A woman charged with assaulting two members of staff at Altnagelvin Hospital has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates' Court. 

Naomi Janine Graham (42) of Strand Road in Derry admitted two assaults that occurred on October 8, 2023.

The court was told police were called to the hospital and told that two members of staff had been assaulted. 

Graham had grabbed one member of staff by the arm and she believed she was going to be headbutted.

She also threw a pair of shoes at another staff member.

Police found Graham on her hands and knees in A&E and restrained her.

When interviewed the defendant said she remembered going to the hospital but nothing else,.

Defence solicitor Conor McGurk said that this was 'atrocious behaviour' and the defendant was well aware of the court's attitude to hospital offending.

He said Graham said she was having 'an episode' at the time and since then she had engaged with probation.

District Judge Barney McElholm said this sort of behaviour would not be tolerated in the hospital. 

He sentenced Graham to four months in prison suspended for two years and ordered her to pay £300 in compensation to each member of staff.