Derry Court: Man ordered to pay 'hefty compensation' for hospital assault

A man has been ordered to pay 'hefty compensation' to a nurse he squared up to in the A&E department of Altnagelvin Hospital.

Thomas Rush (39) of Glengalliagh Park in Derry appeared at the local Magistrate's Court where he admitted being disorderly in the hospital and assault on a nurse on December 5 last.

The court heard that police were called to a report of a disorderly patient in A&E.

Police were told by the injured party that Rush had put her in fear of violence.

He had become aggressive and was running around the department shouting that he was not staying there.

When the nurse tried to stop him leaving as he needed treatment he squared up to her and told her to 'get out of my f-----g way.'

Rush was subsequently arrested and told police he could not remember what had happened but apologised.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that Rush had had issues with drugs and alcohol.

He said 'hospitals are hospitals not warzones' and said no one should have to put up with this sort of behaviour or the threat of violence while doing their job.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that normally this type of offences normally resulted in an immediate custodial sentence.

He said while these were 'very, very serious offences' Rush had expressed regret and disgust and had apologised.

He imposed a sentence of four months suspended for three years and ordered Rush to pay the nurse £1,000 in compensation.