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Man jailed for attacking hospital doctor

BBC Four parked ambulances sit outside the main doors of the emergency department at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Two of the vehicles are yellow and two are green. Two futher vehicles can be seen in the background, parked under a roof.BBC
The assault took place at the Royal Victoria Hospital on 20 December last year

A man who told police he was a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter during a violent outburst in which he assaulted a hospital doctor has been jailed.

Christopher O'Reilly, 33, from Bonds Hill, Londonderry pleaded guilty to assaulting police, common assault, disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The court was told O'Reilly had thrust his elbow into a doctor during an incident in which he targeted two doctors at the Royal Victoria Hospital on 20 December last year.

District Judge Amanda Henderson sentenced O'Reilly to four months in prison.

The court was told O'Reilly had thrown himself to the floor in the hospital's emergency department and struggled aggressively as one of the doctors attempted to lift him up.

A prosecuting barrister said O'Reilly "subsequently struck him (the doctor) and another doctor to their stomachs with his elbow".

Only one of the medics made a statement of complaint against the defendant.

Police arrested O'Reilly at the hospital, but he threw himself back onto the floor to prevent officers escorting him from the scene.

Officers eventually wheeled him to their car in a chair as he continued screaming and shouting, the court was told.

'Deeply sorry and ashamed'

O'Reilly lunged forward with his head in an attempt to strike the arresting constable.

He also squared up to the policeman after being brought to a holding cell at Musgrave police station.

O'Reilly balled his fists up, the court was told, saying: "It's only you and me locked in this room."

The prosecutor added: "He moved forward towards the officer, stating that he had done MMA for a number of years and would leave him in a pile on the floor."

A defence lawyer said O'Reilly was "deeply sorry and ashamed" for his drug-fuelled behaviour.

He added: "In sobriety, he is a completely different person from the chaotic person while under the influence.

"There is no excuse whatsoever for his behaviour, particularly towards medical professionals and police who are just doing their job in that setting."

Sentencing, District Judge Henderson said: "We are all hearing in the news about attacks on medical staff in hospitals.

"They are public servants there to help people like yourself. Once they are assaulted the courts will look at immediate custody, and that's what is going to happen in this case."