A man behaved in a highly abusive and insulting manner towards an ambulance crew who were treating him, a court has heard.
Edward McLoughlin, aged 42, of 63 River Village, Monksland, Athlone, pleaded guilty at Ballina District Court to a breach of the Public Order Act at Ummoon, Foxford, on December 15, 2020.
Sgt Conor McShane said the defendant had sustained an injury while socialising at a function. An ambulance was called and McLoughlin was taken to Mayo University Hospital (MUH) at about 3.30am. However, McLoughlin became very abusive and insulting towards the ambulance crew members en route to MUH. They had to pull over in Foxford as McLoughlin was causing a disturbance. The gardaí were called and arrived at the scene a short time later.
Gda Rebecca Fearon spoke to McLoughlin and realised he was “highly intoxicated” but things settled down for a period and the ambulance left. However, the crew were forced to pull over within minutes as McLoughlin became highly abusive again.
Solicitor Peter Loftus said his client had sustained a severe cut to his groin.
“It was primarily down to the that injury and the alcohol that he became abusive towards the ambulance crew who were doing their job and in his best interests were trying to make sure he was kept safe,” Mr Loftus said. “He says he is very sorry for wasting the ambulance crew’s time and the Garda members time.”
One of the ambulance crew members Derek Walsh was in court and said it was the first time in 24 years that he had to make a Garda statement.
Mr Walsh said McLoughlin was “four long hours” in the ambulance, but Mr Loftus claimed the last few hours were due to a hospital backlog’ and the crew could not offload him. Mr Walsh said some of the details of the night had not been fully outlined in court.
“The gentleman also removed his penis and urinated in the ambulance,” Mr Walsh told the court.
Judge Fiona Lydon adjourned the matter to November 28 to consider victim impact statements from the ambulance crew.
