The actions of a 31-year-old man who was involved in a “horrific incident” at the Accident and Emergency Department at Mayo General Hospital — when he was abusive to staff, was forcefully removed and then broke glass panels with his fist and a refuse bin, which resulted in A&E being evacuated — were described as “totally unacceptable behaviour” by Judge Mary Devins at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
Superintendent Willie Keaveney outlined that on Monday April 27 2009 between 10.30pm and 10.45pm, Patrick Lawrence, 21 Healy Terrace, Ard na Rí, Ballina, entered A&E in order to visit his uncle, however when Lawrence was prevented from seeing his uncle he became abusive towards staff. Lawrence tried to kick the doors open in the department and was then forcibly removed by security staff.
Outside the hospital, Lawrence broke an outside panel of glass with his fist and then threw a refuse bin at the window in order to break the glass. The entire A&E was evacuated. Lawrence left in a van and was subsequently arrested at 11.04pm in Westport. The total damage caused was €493.
Solicitor Aidan Crowley said that the married father of five, who has no previous convictions, was “well tanked” that night as he was drinking heavily all day. Lawrence told the court that he had been drinking since 4pm that day and had consumed five or six cans of cider and also vodka. The defendant said that he found out that his uncle had taken an overdose that day and that was why he went to the hospital. Lawrence said: “What I did was very wrong and I apologise to staff”. He also had compensation in court.
Supt Keaveney put it to the defendant that he was offering drink as an excuse and asked Lawrence if he knew how his “thuggish behaviour” affected the people in the hospital that night who were there seeking serious treatment.
Judge Devins asked the defendant how he would act if he was there with his child and some thug starting bashing in the window and screaming at staff? The judge said that Lawrence showed “complete and utter disrespect” to patients and staff and said that she would like it spelt out in the public arena the effect which the defendant had on the people in the A&E that night. Judge Devins said that she would adjourn the case for mention to June 3 to see if someone from A&E would like to come into court and be heard, “If not I will deal with the matter”.
