Jail for man who was disorderly in hospital

The District Judge at Londonderry Magistrates' Court has jailed a man with 206 previous convictions, on a charge of disorderly behaviour at Altnagelvin hospital.
Bishop street CourthouseBishop street Courthouse
Bishop street Courthouse

Patrick Farren (54), of Stoneburn Place, admitted the charge, as well as assaulting and resisting police and causing damage to a police officer’s body worn camera on May 9 and May 12.

The court heard Farren was at the entrance of Altnagelvin on May 9, screaming and swearing and around a dozen members of the public were in the area at the time.

Warned about his behaviour, he continued to shout, using profanities and was heavily intoxicated and struggled with police, head-butting one officer in the chest and kicking another officer on the leg. He also damaged a body-worn camera in the scuffle.

On May 12, a taxi office on Spencer Road reported that a man was being aggressive with staff, but when police arrived none of the staff wanted to make an official complaint. As police left Farren shouted “f--- off, you b------s” and continued to shout and swear. At the time he was on bail and had breached the conditions by consuming alcohol.

A defence solicitor, said Farren had gotten into a cycle of drinking that has been very hard to break over the years and due to his problems, took up police time and resources, but when sober he was civil and courteous.

District Judge Barney McElholm jailed Farren for eight months and imposed an offender levy.

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