A Judge has has warned a woman that hospital staff should not be subjected to abusive behaviour from members of the public.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham was speaking during the case of a local woman who became physically and verbally abusive to staff at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Aisling Kildea, a 41-year-old from Tullyowen, St Johnston, faced charges in relation to an incident at the Emergency Department of LUH on September 18, 2022.
Sergeant Jim Collins told Letterkenny District Court that Gardai were alerted to a female being abusive at the hospital.
Kildea, he said, had been ‘physically abusive’ while shouting ‘what the fuck is going on?’ Kildea subsequently put her fists up to staff and continued to be verbally abusive.
The court heard that Kildea was arrested and conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station.
Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for Kildea, said his client, a mother-of-two, was apologetic ‘when she sobered up.
“She was brought to hospital by her husband and she has had relevant assistance from appropriate persons since,” Mr Gallagher said. “She fully accepts that she has had an issue with alcohol. She regrets the situation.”
A charge of being intoxicated in a public place was struck out.
Kildea was convicted on a charge of using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace may be occasioned.
Judge Cunningham fined Kildea €200, giving her six months to pay.
“It is serious when people attend hospital and abuse staff,” Judge Cunningham said. “Staff who are under pressure should not be subjected to that.”