Lurgan man, who attacked nursing staff trying to administer medication, is to appeal a jail term, Craigavon court hears

James Russell, aged 41, of Sloan St, Lurgan appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday having pleaded guilty to a raft of charges.

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In the first set of charges, Russell is accused of threats to kill and criminal damage, however, the threat to kill charge was withdrawn.

Police attended Bluestone Unit at Craigavon on April 17 last year after staff contacted them about the defendant, a patient, saying he was “acting aggressively” towards staff.

A Prosecutor revealed this incident followed on from the previous day when the defendant was informed he would be required to take his prescribed anti-psychotic medication by injection rather than his normal tablet form.

"The defendant made clear refusals to have the medication changed from tablet to injection,” said the Prosecutor, adding the injured party, a ward manager, organised a group of male staff members to assist her in administering the medication.

She said that this was "a precaution”, adding the police were also called to “act as support for medical staff”.

"Staff then attempted to administer the medication. The defendant is alleged to have become aggressive and armed himself with a plant pot,” she said, adding he threw the pot at a window which left a mark and the pot contents spilled on the floor.

"Members of staff continued to help the defendant take his medication but this was met by repeated threats to kill anyone who came near him.”

The District Judge pointed out that Russell is only charged with criminal damage and the Prosecutor revealed that was agreed so "long as the full facts were open to the court”.

As a result of this behaviour he was restrained by staff and escorted to isolation where the medication was successfully administered, a Prosecutor said, adding a consultant in charge of the defendant’s care said Russell was aware of his actions and fit to be interviewed.

In another incident at Bluestone Unit, Russell pleaded guilty to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. Police received a report on January 23 last year from an injured party who was working on a ward.

"He was attending a patient when the defendant approached him stating he wanted to play one of the games. He explained he was busy and told him to leave,” said the Prosecutor, adding the defendant then launched “an unprovoked attack” striking the injured party to the face and knocking him to the ground.

Russell then punched him again before other staff intervened. The injured party attended the Emergency Department and was off work for 4-6 weeks.

In the final set of charges Russell had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and common assault. On April 9, last year police were called due to the defendant "becoming agitated” as staff prepared to administer medication at Bluestone.

“It was alleged at this time the defendant subsequently barricaded himself into an activity room. He placed furniture at both entry points to prevent any staff entering,” said the Prosecutor.

"It is alleged he broke a chair from his room brandishing a metal pole towards staff and directly stating towards the injured party ‘I’m going to kill you’.

"The injured party stated she was in genuine fear that should the defendant exit the room he would attempt to cause harm to her,” said the Prosecutor, adding the consultant again confirmed the defendant had full capacity.

When asked the Prosecutor said they chose to charge him with common assault rather than threats to kill. Mr Halleron said his client has a "borderline personality disorder” and also suffers from paranoid schizophrenia plus PTSD.

He said his client was in the unit as a sectioned patient for his own safety. “He was not fully compliant with his mediation. There was a dispute over whether his medication should be taken orally or if he should be given the IV injections and this led to this behaviour,” said the barrister, adding his client has since been assessed as someone who can be managed in the community and is currently compliant with his medication.

"He is incredibly ashamed of his behaviour within the unit. He has very little memory of it,” he said, urging the District Judge to sentence him to allow him to go home with his parents.

District Judge Magill said: “Mr Halleron he has two assaults on police, six common assaults, one criminal damage. There are drugs. There’s indecency. There’s an indecent assault, offensive weapon and five disorderly behaviours.”

Mr Halleron said his client’s final diagnosis only came when he was in the unit and it takes time for the anti-psychotic medication to take effect.

District Judge Magill said: "It is true you have issues with your mental wellbeing. The court sees again and again crimes committed against health care workers and quite often the person committing the offence is someone who has issues.

"There must come a time when the individual circumstances of the defendant have to give way to the principle of protection of the public, in these cases of healthcare workers. You have well passed that.”

For the common assault on January 23 he was sentenced to two months in jail. Regarding the criminal damage, common assault on April 9 he was given two months on each charge concurrent with each other but consecutive with the previous matter.

For the criminal damage charge on April 17 he was given a one month jail term, also consecutive to the others plus the £25 Offender Levy – leaving a global sentence of five months.

He was released on his own bail of £100 to appeal the sentence.

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