Troubled woman kicked nurse during treatment for ligature around neck

A troubled young woman lashed out at a nurse in the emergency department of a hospital as a ligature was being removed from her neck.

The woman, aged 25, of Cork Simon Community, pleaded guilty, yesterday, to a charge of assaulting the nurse at Cork University Hospital, on April 24.

Garda Breandán Hannafin said: “She was present at the A&E unit and she became aggressive and violent. She kicked and punched the member of staff. She continued to be aggressive afterwards.”

Defence solicitor Eamonn Moloney said: “The nurse intervened in removing a ligature from around her neck. She has been in and out of treatment and has a long psychiatric history.”

Judge Olann Kelleher suggested that it might have been in the defendant’s interest to have the case finalised yesterday.

Mr Moloney asked for an adjournment of sentencing until November 28, and said he was anxious to have medical evidence before the court, setting out the defendant’s difficult background.

Judge Kelleher agreed to that application. During the case, yesterday, the judge said: “This lady was so ill she had to be detained against her will, for her own benefit.”