Co Armagh man, who brought knife into a hospital emergency department, was 'in crisis', Craigavon court hears
A ‘vulnerable’ man, who brought a knife into the Emergency Department at Craigavon Hospital, was ‘in crisis’ his lawyer told a court.
The 41-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday.
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Connor Martin Patrick Chambers, from Dingwell Park, Lurgan pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place.
On September 28 last year the defendant was reported to have been in possession of the knife in the Emergency Department of Craigavon Area Hospital.
Police seized the knife and, during interview, Chambers said he had the knife with a view to “self-harm”.
Chambers’ solicitor said his client had “not the easiest of lives” and has “longstanding difficulties” with alcohol and mental health.
“At the date of this offence Mr Chambers was struggling significantly with his mental health,” said the solicitor, describing his client’s actions at the hospital as “excessive and unnecessary”.
He said his client is a “vulnerable man who was in crisis”. “These actions were a cry for help rather than conduct motivated by aggression or hostility,” he said.
"That’s supported by the nurse who first approached Mr Chambers,” said the solicitor, adding she said there was “no threatening behaviour just cooperation” with staff and police.
"I am not trying to excuse what happened. The safety of essential workers must be protected but this was conduct arising from a vulnerable man who was at a particularly difficult point in his life.”
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said that given the defendant’s mental health issues and acknowledgement this was a “cry for help” he could deal with it with a suspended jail term.
He sentenced him to three months in jail suspended for 12 months.