Man arrested after 'shocking incident' at Altnagelvin Hospital

Police in Derry have arrested a man on suspicion of assaulting police and causing criminal damage in the Emergency Department of Altnagelvin Hospital.

The man, aged in his 30s, was arrested by District Support Team officers who responded to a call in the Faustina Terrace area of the city on Thursday evening. Shortly after 7pm, they located a male who, it was confirmed, was unlawfully at large.

The man was arrested in relation to this, and on suspicion of drug-related offences.

The man required medical attention and was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital where he damaged a toilet in the Emergency Department and also threw hospital equipment, causing injury to two police officers.

The man was further arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, assault on police and resisting police, and he remains in custody at this time.

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Inspector Neil Hewat said: “This was a shocking incident that occurred in a public place where people who need medical help go to receive urgent care and treatment. That this occurred, in addition to the impact on the Emergency Department itself, is reprehensible.

“This incident highlights our message that assaults on all emergency service workers and any type of disruptive behaviour is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated."

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) said: “This incident will have an impact on our diagnostic services along with the cost to replace damaged equipment and we are working to ensure that we can minimise any disruption to services within the ED Department.

The spokesperson added: “We have a zero tolerance policy and do not tolerate any violent or disruptive behaviour in our hospital facilitates. We ask the public to respect our staff and facilities at all times."