Suspended sentence for disorderly behaviour in Derry hospital

A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today charged with disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital. 

Christopher McLaughlin (41) of Dublin Street in Newtownstewart admitted the disorderly and resisting police on February 10 this year.

The court heard that police were called to hospital to reports of a disruptive male.

They were told that McLaughlin had tried to leave the hospital and said he was going to go to the bridge. 

The defendant calmed down but then he started telling police he was going to 'kick off' and make it difficult for them to handcuff him.

READ NEXT: Suspended sentence for Derry man who kicked officer and resisted arrest

McLaughlin then threw a cup of water on the floor in front of other patients and started to struggle with police. 

The court heard that McLaughlin 'actively resisted' for around five minutes and made threats against officers.

Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said that the incident stemmed from a change in McLaughlin's medication.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said that this must have been 'disturbing' for other patients.

She sentenced McLaughlin to three months in custody suspended for 12 months.