Co Armagh man, who attacked a nurse with his crutch causing her significant injury, claimed he was 'hallucinating', Craigavon court hears
A Lurgan man, who attacked a nurse with a crutch several times causing her significant injuries, claimed he was hallucinating.
Peter Christopher Graham, aged 55, from Mark Street, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday pleading guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and assault causing actual bodily harm.
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Police were tasked to Craigavon Hospital on June 18 last year amid reports of a patient attacking a nurse in the acute medical unit.
The injured party reported she was struck with a crutch on the right side of her face and jaw. “She put out her right forearm in an attempt to defend herself and was struck a further four times,” a Prosecutor told the court.
“She sustained a laceration to her right, middle finger alongside swelling and bruising to her jaw and right forearm.”
During interview the defendant made full admissions but claimed he had no recollection of the incident “due to being heavily medicated whilst receiving treatment for alcohol withdrawal”.
Graham’s barrister, Mr Conor Lunny, said his client gave a “genuine apology” and is “not a man given to this type of violence”.
"He has a sorry history of alcohol dependence which got to the stage where he voluntarily chose to become intoxicated but not just through alcohol but through the ingestion of 16 different tablets,” said Mr Lunny, describing it as a “cry for help”.
"As a result he found himself admitted to this ward. He had been prescribed and given a dose of Librium and, it is clear, that doesn’t agree with him,” said the barrister.
He revealed last February his client had a “similar reaction” to Librium. “He actually jumped off the hospital roof and broke his leg - again suffering the effects of alcohol withdrawal and prescribed and dosed with Librium,” he said.
Mr Lunny said: “He has had sleepless nights beating himself up in respect of what he did to that young lady who was there simply to attend and care for him.”
Mr Lunny referred to his client’s “limited recollection” and his “belief at the time, hallucinations, that some of the medical professions were armed with guns”.
He explained he had crutches due to him breaking his legs seven months earlier and he used that crutch “for no reason whatsoever but believing this nurse was out to attack him”.
Mr Lunny said his client had taken some steps to address his addiction.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said Graham’s actions had a “significant effect” on this nurse.
"She came to this jurisdiction to try and help people. She came to this jurisdiction during a difficult time and this has had a massive impact on her. She has kept working but is hiding the effects this has had on her to keep on trying to help people, unlike yourself,” he said.
“This is an attack and a prolonged attack on a nurse using a weapon in a hospital setting. There’s a significant injury to a finger,” he said.
District Judge Ranaghan deferred sentencing until June 4 with conditions that he continue to engage with Community Addictions and Extern, no further offending and to compensate the victim £750. He was also told to write a letter to his victim via the court.