Foaming at the mouth during abuse in Cork A&E

Seven people sitting on hospital trolleys in an emergency unit had their anxiety increased by a man foaming at the mouth who clenched his fists and shouted abuse at medical staff.

Inspector Eileen Foster said yesterday that this incident occurred at the emergency department of Mercy University Hospital shortly before 9pm on August 7 of this year.

Garda Sheena Murray responded to a call to the hospital and found a man sitting on a chair verbally abusing members of staff and shouting, “fucking c***s”. He also shouted, “fuck ye all”.

He was foaming at the mouth and had his fists clenched.

Eric Kiely, aged 32, of 21, Dublin Street, Blackpool, Cork, pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk and a danger and being threatening and abusive at the hospital.

Defence solicitor Paul O’Mahony accepted the facts of the case and said the accused was apologetic and remorseful and realised that offences of this sort were more serious when committed in hospitals.

Mr O’Mahony said, however, that there was a medical reason for the accused being present in the hospital that night as he was found collapsed on the street and was taken there by ambulance.

Mr O’Mahony, solicitor, said the accused had not been in trouble over the past two years although he did have numerous previous convictions prior to that.

A three-month suspended sentence was imposed on Kiely for his threatening behaviour.

He was fined €500 for being drunk and a danger.