The defendant was found screaming at Millcroft Care Home staff
A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to six months in custody for a “vile” attack on police outside an Enniskillen care home which left elderly residents inside upset and distressed.
Sean Drumm of Derryaghna in Letterbreen appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday for sentencing via videolink from Hydebank Prison where he is in custody on other matters.
The court heard that at 7.30pm on January 10th last, police were called to Mill Street in Enniskillen after reports that Drumm entered a number of houses. The defendant appeared drunk, prompting the occupants to contact police.
A short time later at 8.30pm, police were called to Millcroft Care Home where Drumm was causing a disturbance. He was found holding on to the front door of the nursing home and shouting and screaming at staff.
Officers asked Drumm several times to calm down but he continued hurling verbal abuse and shouting “black bastards, handicaps and f*** off.” As police attempted to restrain him with handcuffs he resisted arrest, kicking one constable on the leg and also spat at him. Officers were concerned that the disturbance would upset and distress the elderly residents in the care home. The court was told that Drumm became so abusive and aggressive that he eventually had to be placed in leg restraints before being transported to Enniskillen Police Station in a cell van.
When later questioned by police, Drumm said he couldn’t remember anything after noon on the date in question as he had been “completely out of it”. He was charged with assaulting and resisting police and disorderly behaviour. In his police interview Drumm said he had been drinking whisky, rum, vodka and brandy as well as consuming 20 “blues” pills.
Defence barrister, Steffan Rafferty described the incident as “a very unsavoury series of events”.
Mr Rafferty referred to his client’s substance abuse and alcohol issue as outlined in the pre-sentence report which he said invariably ends up with his client appearing before the court. The barrister added that Drumm was currently engaging with counselling services and is under ongoing psychological assessment.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said Drumm’s behaviour had been “quite despicable and vile” and had caused a lot of upset to the care home residents. The judge said that the custody threshold has been crossed as he imposed consecutive three month sentences on each charge and activated a previously suspended prison sentence. Drumm was sentenced to a total of six months and fined £25.
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