A man who engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour towards staff and patients in the Accident and Emergency Department of Mayo General Hospital, was sentenced to three months in prison at Castlebar District Court this week.
Garda John Gallagher responded to a disturbance at the hospital on December 27 2009 at 4.30pm where the hospital receptionist informed him that Derek Humber, 31 Tyrawley Terrace, Ballina, was very aggressive and threatening to members of the staff and the public. Humber was verbally abusive, took up a wheelchair, and argued with an elderly man who left the area without being seen by staff. Security were called three times before gardaí were called.
Humber, who has 42 previous convictions and who is in receipt of disability benefit for an irregular heartbeat, had according to his solicitor Denis Molloy, attended A&E that day as he had mixed alcohol and his heart medication.
Judge Mary Devins said that it was “outrageous” that the defendant put “innocent sick people” in danger and fear that day and convicted and fined Humber €500 and sentenced him to three months in prison.
