Man who was aggressive and urinated on ambulance kit bag appears at Derry Court

Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a man urinated over a kit bag belonging to an ambulance crew member causing damage of more than £1,000.

Paul Farren (32) of Duncreggan Road in Derry admitted two charges of criminal damage and a charge of disorderly behaviour that occurred on December 16.

The court heard that police were called to assist ambulance staff who were treating the defendant who was being aggressive.

He was verbally abusive to ambulance staff despite receiving numerous warnings.

The court then heard Farren stood up and urinated on the kit bag of one of the staff.

He was arrested for criminal damage and disorderly behaviour and taken to Altnagelvin Hospital.

While being taken there Farren again urinated in the police vehicle.

The court heard that the ambulance had to be taken off the road for two hours and that while some of the kit could be clinically cleaned a lot had to be disposed of.

At interview Farren made no comment.

Bail was opposed and the court heard the defendant had 161 previous convictions and had only been released from prison two weeks previously.

The officer said that Farren came to police attention on almost a daily basis and there was an 'extremely high risk' of re-offending if released.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said Farren had accepted the charges at the first opportunity.

District Judge Oonagh Mullen said she was not minded to grant Farren bail and ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Farren will appear again on January 16.