This article is from page 10 of the 2012-04-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
A MAN smashed an ambulance and insulted paramedics in protest at the location of a temporary exit from Ennis General Hospital last year, a court has heard.
Paul Daly (50), with an address at 41 Sandfield Centre, Ennis appeared at Ennis District Court charged with public order and criminal damage offences.
Mr Daly was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and causing damage to an ambulance and jeep, both belonging to the Health Services Executive (HSE).
The charges relate to an incident that occurred yards from Ennis General Hospital on Sandfield Road in Ennis on October 23 (2011).
Linda O’Rourke, advanced paramedic in Ennis Ambulance Station, told the court that she was working as a sole responder on the night in question.
She said the services received an urgent call to respond to a patient who was lying on the footpath on Sandfield Road.
Ms O’Rourke explained that after the ambulance had left with the patient, she started to compile a report on the incident.
As she did this, Ms O’Rourke said, she heard shouting and banging on the jeep.
She said she then saw a man kick the side of the jeep. She added, “I got such fright, I dropped everything.”
Ms O’Rourke called for the gardaí and also for the ambulance to return to the scene.
Alan Massey, a paramedic in the ambulance services in Ennis, said that when arrived back on Sandfield Road, he heard three loud bangs on the side of the ambulance.
He said, “I could see a gentleman in the road just about to kick the vehicle.”
Mr Massey said he was forced to restrain Mr Daly “for his own safety” after he tried to punch him.
He added, “He called me an English c*** and to f*** off home or I’ll kill you.”
In court, Mr Daly denied trying to punch Mr Massey and denied using those words against him.
Tom Casey, Fleet Manager with the HSE West, told the court that € 1,100 worth of damage was caused to the jeep while € 500 worth of damage was caused to ambulance.
Garda Marguerite Wright told the court that Mr Daly behaved “ex- tremely aggressively” towards Mr Massey. She said that Mr Daly fully cooperated with gardaí.
Solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that his client had made a number of complaints to gardaí regarding an exit on Sandfield Road that had been in use during recent construction work at the hospital.
The court heard that Mr Daly, who is originally from Dublin, moved to Clare six years ago. He admitted in court to banging and kicking the vehicles.
He said he had been very frustrated over the exit and the noise generated by construction work at the hospital at night.
Mr Daly added, “I snapped just enough to go out and have a go at them.”
The court heard that Mr Daly has 18 previous convictions, mainly for public order offences.
Mr Hassett said his client was a complex individual who would benefit from involvement with the probation and welfare services.
He said HSE staff should not have to deal with that level of abuse.
In convicting Mr Daly, Judge Patrick Durcan said the paramedics had been doing their jobs when they were “set upon, abused and put, I imagine, in fear of their lives.”
He said Mr Daly had referred to Mr Massey in the most unbecoming of terms.
He described the comments as some of the “most appalling” he has heard during his time on the bench.
Judge Durcan ordered Mr Daly to engage with the probation and welfare services. He adjourned sentencing until May 9.