Jail for 'sectarian bigot' who became aggressive at Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital

A man who became aggressive at Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital has been jailed at the local Magistrate's Court today.

Joseph Neil McFeely (38) of Creggan Road in Derry admitted a series of offences that occurred on March 19 2021 including disorderly behaviour in the hospital, assault on police, two criminal damages and possessing drugs.

The court heard that police arrested McFeely and he spat on the floor of a police vehicle and then spat at an officer.

He was taken to hospital and while there he became aggressive and made remarks and was placed in a police van where he urinated on the floor.

When taken to the police station a small amount of cannabis was found on him. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that it was 'a very unsavoury case' that occurred when he was under the influence of some sort of substance.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that it was quite clear he was 'a sectarian bigot' who had used 'nasty sectarian language' while in the hospital. 

He sentenced McFeely to five months in prison.