Woman jailed for attacking Mercy Hospital staff

A WOMAN who attacked security staff and gardaí at the emergency department of a Cork hospital and shouted that she hoped patients would die was yesterday jailed for six weeks at Cork District Court.

Sarah Sinnott, aged 20, of Gerald Griffin Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening behaviour that gave rise of a breach of the peace.

Garda Inspector Eileen Foster described the events at the Mercy Hospital &to the court: “Garda Lorraine O’Donovan and Garda Colm Spring went there as a result of a call. Three security staff were restraining a female on the ground. She was screaming and struggling to get out of their grip.

“The water machine had been knocked over and there was water all over the floor. Staff were trying to fix the machine. Gardaí placed handcuffs on her but she was spitting and attempting to bite gardaí and security staff.

“Gardaí tried to place her on a chair. She continued to spit and kick and she had to be placed on the floor.

“She roared and shouted and said she hoped all the old patients would die and she hoped all the patients and all the children would die. On the way out she struck out at a female who was outside the hospital smoking.”

Judge David Riordan sentenced Sinnott to six weeks in jail.

Donal Daly, solicitor for Sinnott, said the incident in the early hours of October 31, 2010, should be viewed in the context of the defendant’s psychiatric problems.

Mr Daly said that while Sinnott understood the charges against her and was fit to plead to the charges, she had a very severe psychiatric history.

He said that she had previously been assessed for a particular psychiatric treatment that was unavailable in Ireland, but was available in Manchester.

Mr Daly said she did not take up that treatment but was about to do so now.

Sinnott is also awaiting sentence in a Dublin court on a charge of assault causing harm. She has 43 previous convictions including counts for assault.

Mr Daly said the defendant was extremely distressed around the time of the incident, and her distress was compounded later by the death of her sister, whom the solicitor described as “the only person with home she had any meaningful contact”.

He said there had been a pattern of violent outbursts in the past arising out “her serious and unusual condition”.

Mr Daly said: “I would ask you to see her conduct on this occasion not as acting in her own free will but under the influence of these psychiatric problems that she labours under.”