A Lurgan man who kicked an eight-month pregnant nurse at Craigavon Area Hospital and exposed his genitals has been jailed for four months.
Christopher McDaid, 27, of Dill Avenue, appeared at the Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with two counts of resisting arrest, two counts of assault on police, two counts of disorderly behaviour, obstructing a constable, failing to provide a breath test, common assault, two counts of criminal damage and one count of indecent behaviour.
These offences were accrued in three separate incidents.
The first incident on February 14, saw police called to a report of a man driving whilst under the influence of alcohol in Charles Street, Lurgan.
Officers arrived at the Courthouse bar where they saw a Vauxhall Vectra unattended, unlocked and with its driver door wide open.
Shortly after they located the defendant who appeared unsteady on his feet shouting and swearing at them.
As they detained McDaid he spat at and kicked police, and the court heard the keys to the vehicle were found in the defendant’s trouser pocket.
He was subsequently taken to Lurgan Custody Suite where he repeatedly refused to take a breathalyser test.
The second incident occurred on March 17 at around 6.10pm, when police were called to the report of an assault on an eight-month pregnant nurse at Craigavon Area Hospital.
Court heard that no injuries were suffered by the woman or her unborn child.
The nurse told police she had walked past the defendant to take his blood pressure when he kicked her in the back.
When asked why he had done this McDaid replied: “I don’t give a f***”.
Another nurse who was aware of the defendant’s behaviour took him to the triage area where he proceeded to urinate on the floor.
When asked to pull his trousers back up he told hospital staff to “go f*** yourself” and refused to do so.
He was then taken to an A&E cubicle by police where he proceeded to say to “f*** up” and call them “w*****” and “d*******”.
McDaid was warned about his behaviour before he then spat in the mouth of an officer.
The defendant was restrained by hospital staff and in reply to caution called officers “pigs”, “tramps” and “a*******”.
When later interviewed, McDaid stated that he had been drinking at home and claimed all he could remember was being detained in the cubicle.
And the most recent incident occurred on April 6, when police spotted the defendant in the passenger seat of a friend’s vehicle outside Hunters Lodge in Lurgan.
This, court heard, was a breach of McDaid’s bail conditions so he was approached by officers.
When police engaged the defendant he became aggressive, resisted their attempts to handcuff him and spat in their direction.
Court also heard that McDaid had to be taken to the ground to be arrested and when cautioned made no reply.
He was then placed in a cell van where he once again spat on the floor.
In interview, the defendant made no reply to police questioning.
Defence counsel stated that “something strange happened last October” which led McDaid to spiral into the misuse of alcohol, although they admitted that this was not an excuse.
They added that the defendant was a “completely different person when sober” and had unsuccessfully tried to deal with these “drink-fuelled escapades”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly stated that his “actions were indicative of his attitude”, going on to say he could of damaged an unborn child.
She also commented that she wished she could ban him from the grounds of the hospital to make him realise how lucky he was to have that type of care on his doorstep.
Judge Kelly described McDaid’s behaviour as “despicable” and “obscene”.
“To attack a woman who was eight months pregnant is obscene and made all the more obscene when you realise her role was as a medical practitioner, there to provide medical assistance to you because of the state that you voluntarily got yourself into,” she said.
The judge added: “Most people are potty trained at two years old.”
She gave credit to the defendant for his plea and limited record as she sentenced him to four months in prison.
McDaid was also handed a 15-month driving ban and a £150 fine.
Judge Kelly finished by warning the defendant “if you ever behave like this again you will be serving a longer time in prison, this type of despicable behaviour cannot be tolerated”.
