Enniskillen Court House
An 18-year-old man has been warned that he faces going to prison if he is abusive towards hospital staff again in the future.
Brandon Gillen of Willowvale in Enniskillen appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday for sentencing after being charged with nine offences on two separate dates. The court heard that in the first incident on December 23rd last, police received a report of a drunk male at 9.25pm on Forthill Street, Enniskillen who was seen with blood on his clothes.
Officers arrived at the scene and found Gillen heavily intoxicated, staggering and wearing blood-stained clothes. He then called police “black bastards” and was taken to the South West Acute Hospital.
On the way in the police cell van, he shouted at police and banged his head and arms against the door. He was also abusive to hospital staff on arrival at SWAH who refused to treat him due to his behaviour.
Gillen, who appeared in court with his mother, was charged with two counts of assaulting police, criminal damage and disorderly behaviour.
He also faced further charges disorderly behaviour, drug possession and three counts of assault on police relating to an incident on December 31st last at SWAH when he attempted to headbutt a police officer and told them to “f*** off”.
Gillen was arrested and as he was being placed in the police patrol car, he spat on officers and had to be forcibly restrained. When later searched at the police station he was found with cannabis.
On reading a probation report prepared for the sentencing hearing, the judge noted that the defendant admitted getting violent when he drinks but still continues to consume alcohol. Referring to his previous record as a youth, the judge added: “He is clearly having a wake-up call now in the adult court.”
Judge Conway said that rather than throw the defendant in “at the deep end”, he was going to allow Gillen to continue engaging with Youth Justice Agency.
Addressing Gillen, he said: “You have had a bit of a wake-up call. You are playing with the big boys now as the sentencing options in this court area a lot greater. I want to see how you work with Youth Justice Agency and that will determine what options this court will impose. If you behave in this way again in any hospital or towards medical staff and are charged, I can guarantee that your starting point will be a custodial sentence.”
The matter was adjourned until August 13th.
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