Man jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court for assaulting an ambulance worker

A man has been jailed at Derry Magistrates' Court today for assaulting an ambulance worker.

Emmett Byrne (29) of no fixed abode admitted the charge that occurred on October 1 this year.

The court heard that at 11.10pm police were in attendance at Altnagelvin Hospital on a different matter when they were flagged down by a member of the ambulance staff.

They were told there was an aggressive male in an ambulance who was refusing to get out.

Police were told the ambulance crew had picked up Byrne in Sackville Street and brought him to the hospital. 

He attempted to 'intimidate' a member of the ambulance staff who had travelled in the rear of the vehicle with him and when they arrived at the hospital he refused to leave.

Byrne then lunged at the ambulance staff but police were on the scene and were able to restrain Byrne.

At interview he claimed to have been heavily intoxicated and couldn't remember anything. 

He also said that he could  'not admit what he couldn't remember. '

Defence counsel Seamus Lannon said his client was aware 'the court takes a very, very dim view' of such behaviour in hospital. 

He said it was fortunate no one had been injured in the incident although this was not to Byrne 's credit.

The barrister said that Byrne seemed to assault people trying to assist him. 

Byrne was sentenced to three months in prison.