South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen RMG27
AN ENNISKILLEN man who terrified a local social worker and was aggressive and threatening has been sentenced to prison.
Daniel McCordick (22) with an address at Darling Street appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last Wednesday charged with improper use of electronic communications and making threats to damage property after calling the social worker at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) on November 19 last year.
McCordick’s daughter was a patient at the hospital and he called the social worker, who was involved with the family, to demand to see the child. The court was told the social worker felt intimidated by the call, as the defendant had been verbally aggressive, telling her to “f**k off” and calling her a “fat bastard”.
When the social worker tried to talk to McCordick about access issues with his children, he replied “I’ll come up and kick your f**king head in” and “wait to you see what I’ll do at the next meeting” and said he was going to “come up and wreck the place.”
The court was told the social worker was terrified for the rest of the day and was fearful McCordick would come to her place of work. She was also fearful of being attacked as she left work.
When he was arrested McCordick admitted to telling her to “f**k off” but denied making threats to property, and said he was not menacing or abusive.
Defence solicitor Myles McManus said while McCordick had a poor record, with 56 previous convictions, a large amount of his offending took place while he was a youth.
Mr McManus said McCordick accepted his behaviour had been unacceptable and had explained anything he had said was said “in the heat of the moment.” He said his client had since apologised to the social worker.
The solicitor added it had simply been a telephone call, which had come about as he’d been frustrated at not being updated on his daughter’s health, and McCordick didn’t act on what he had said and didn’t attend the hospital. District Judge Paul Copeland, pointing to McCordick’s record, said he had a capacity for violence and questioned why the defendant was not allowed to see his child in the first place.
Judge Copeland said he believed any court would consider the custody threshold to be met in the case, with an immediate jail term the only appropriate sentence.
Adding that abusing those who are performing a public service, such as a social worker who he caused to feel intimidated and fearful, was an aggravating factor in the case, Judge Copeland said his sentence must also act as a deterrent to others “who would abuse those going about their work.”
He sentenced McCordick to a total of four months in prison. The defendant was released on bail of £400 pending appeal.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere