Man in court over 'Monkey face' taunt at Limerick hospital

A COUNTY Clare man has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged 'race hate crime’ committed against a Pakistani security guard at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on Halloween night.

At Ennis District Court on Monday, Garda Roisín Moran said that it will be alleged that after being caught trying to flee from Garda custody at the A&E Department at UHL on Saturday, Martin O’Callaghan (38) called a security member, who is a Pakistani national, ‘monkey face’.

Garda Moran said the alleged comment by Mr O’Callaghan was made in the presence of Gardai.

Garda Moran said that Mr O’Callaghan of High Street, Lissycasey made a sound of pooling saliva in his mouth as if about to spit and told hospital security that he was HIV positive.

Garda Moran said that Mr O’Callaghan was arrested earlier that day in Kilrush concerning a separate alleged public order incident and was brought to UHL after telling Gardai that he had swallowed a bag of cocaine.

In the case Mr O’Callaghan is charged with at the UHL A&E department on October 31 of provoking a breach of the peace and demonstrating at the time of committing the offence hatred towards a hospital security guard and that hatred being on account of the security guard’s presumed membership of a group as defined by reference to race, colour or nationality.

The charge is contrary to Section 6A of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 as inserted by Section 6(c) of the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024.

Garda Moran said that Mr O’Callaghan was arrested earlier that day in Kilrush where he was clearly intoxicated and allegedly shouting bad language towards Gardai at Wood Rd, Kilrush near to where mothers and their children were ‘trick or treating’.

Garda Moran said that Mr O'Callaghan refused all offers of medical assistance at UHL.

Garda Moran said that Gardaí were objecting to bail and counsel for Mr O’Callaghan, Elaine Davern Wiseman BL said that her client’s wish is to get help with his drug abuse and his drug abuse is something he has been struggling with for a very long time.

Mr O’Callaghan is a father of four ranging in age from 14 years to only 12 weeks old.

Granting Mr O’Callaghan bail, Judge Catherine Ryan said that the allegations concerning what occurred at UHL “are of particular concern” given that they are alleged to have taken place in a hospital.

Judge Ryan granted Mr O’Callaghan bail on condition that he stay out of Kilrush and he is due to stay at a bail address at Rossbracken, Shannon.

Judge Ryan urged Mr O’Callaghan to get treatment for his drug addiction and remanded him on bail to appear before Ennis District Court on November 25.