A 52-year-old Belleek woman who threatened to kill a nurse while she was receiving medical treatment to an injury has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Victoria Heyburn, of Carlton Cottages, Finner, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour when she appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court.
Heyburn, who suffers from an alcohol addiction, launched a verbal and physical attack on hospital staff on December 31 last year.
A prosecutor told the court that on New Year’s Eve, at around 9.40pm, police were tasked to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) following a report that a woman was verbally and physically abusive towards staff.
Officers found Heyburn lying on the floor outside a treatment room.
The court heard that Heyburn had to restrained after she screamed and shouted at staff and punched a doctor in the face who was trying to put staples into her injured head.
She was told to calm down, however she refused and continued to launched verbal abuse at the hospital staff in front of other patients and visitors. Heyburn then told a nurse: “You f*****g bitch, I will kill you. F*****g bitch.”
She was warned for the second time over her behaviour but she continued to scream and shout abuse.
Police officers were forced to used restraints on her ankles before she was taken to Enniskillen Police Station.
The accused continued to scream and shout and she spat at an officer but it did not land on her.
Heyburn had to be physically carried to the police cell to calm down.
A defence solicitor explained there were a number of domestic issues contained in the pre-sentence report, including her ongoing problems with alcohol.
District Judge Nigel Broderick stated it was obvious Heyburn suffered from alcohol addiction.
“It’s crying out throughout all the reports. It’s a constant thing,” he added.
“I have said it’s clearly obvious to me and the report from your doctor, you’re sadly an individual who suffer from an alcohol addiction.
“I was considering sending you on a programme but you are in denial of your problem and you have aspirations of returning to England.”
Heyburn was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
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