Aggressive drunk threatened Mercy Hospital staff and patients

Judge: 'It is very unfair for this man to be causing trouble in a hospital where staff are trying to help people like him'

The judge pointed out that staff were trying to help people like the accused.

Doctors, nurses, and patients at Mercy University Hospital’s accident and emergency unit had to contend with a drunken man who was aggressive and threatening.

Gardaí attended at the hospital on the evening of April 24 to find Peter Matthews causing the disturbance.

Judge Olann Kelleher sentenced Matthews of St Vincent’s hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork, to seven months in prison for this and other offences.

Regarding the incident at the hospital, Judge Kelleher said: “It is very unfair for this man to be causing trouble in a hospital — causing havoc for patients, doctors, and nurses, when the staff are doing their best to look after people like Mr Matthews.”

A month later, on May 31, gardaí encountered him on Eglantine Street.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said: “It was 7.20pm and Mr Matthews was wearing no shoes or socks and no shirt. He was shouting at vehicles in the area asking if anyone wanted to fight him.

“Garda Seán Finnegan asked him to desist in his behaviour. Mr Matthews told him to go fuck himself.

“After his arrest, he said he was sorry for his behaviour, that he smoked a bag of gear before the incident.”

For other incidents, including being drunk and a danger, the defendant also pleaded guilty.

Sergeant Davis said the 29-year-old had 17 previous convictions for being drunk and a danger and eight for engaging in threatening behaviour.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer said: “The generality of his offending behaviour is verbally abusive. He is recovering from addiction — drugs and alcohol — and he has spent lengthy times in rehabilitation.”

The cumulative total of new sentences and revoked suspensions on other sentences amounted to seven months, backdated to August 22 when the defendant was arrested and put into custody.