Corkman pleads guilty to assaulting staff member at Mercy hospital

Accused struck staff member in face as he tried to get out of room where he was being held, court told

Solicitor, described Mr O’Brien as 'an involuntary attendee' at the hospital at the time in relation to mental health concerns. Picture: Denis Scannell

Patients at Mercy University Hospital had to deal with the violent disturbance caused by another patient assaulting a member of staff at the facility.

At the height of the incident, Sergeant Gearóid Davis said 27-year-old Richard O’Brien had to be held in a small room but he repeatedly ran at the door and tried to ram it open. 

Sgt Davis said at Cork District Court the door and frame were damaged and blood from Mr O’Brien’s head wound was splashed on the walls and floor of the room.

Now at Cork District Court, Richard O’Brien, of 14 Hollyhill Heights, Hollyhill, Cork, has pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a security officer, causing criminal damage and engaging in threatening behaviour.

Details of the incident, which occurred on the morning of July 21, 2023, were outlined for Judge Mary Dorgan.

“Gardaí were dispatched to the Mercy hospital. Staff were having difficulties with a patient. On arrival, gardaí were met by security at the ambulance bay who outlined that a patient was in the resus area and was aggressive and threatening towards staff.

“The patient was being held in a small room with the door being forced closed by security staff due to his aggression.

“Richard O’Brien tried to get out of this room by kicking and running at the door.

“In doing this, he reached out his arm and in doing so he struck the member of security staff in the face.

“The door and door frame were damaged and there was blood from the patient’s head wound on the floor and walls. The injured party suffered a minor injury,” Sgt Davis said.

The accused had 38 previous convictions, including 10 for threatening behaviour, four for assault and one for causing criminal damage.

In fairness to the accused, Sgt Davis pointed out that the assault occurred in the course of the young man’s attempt to force his way out of the room in which he was being held.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, described Mr O’Brien as “an involuntary attendee” at the hospital at the time in relation to mental health concerns.

“He was probably resistant but he was taken to hospital. What was in his mind was to seek to get out of the hospital and that would have been against medical advice,” Mr Buttimer said.

The accused suffers from conditions including schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, the solicitor said.

Judge Dorgan put sentencing back until May 2 for a probation report.

“You can only imagine how difficult it was for people attending the hospital by the way he was behaving — the blood and the banging and everything. There was €1,000 worth of damage. He is going to have to make some effort to compensate. And he has to stay out of trouble,” Judge Dorgan said.