Jail for patient who spat at and racially abused doctor

On the 12th of February 2018, Coleraine Magistrates Court sentenced Mr. Ciaran McKeown to 10 months prison for spitting on and verbally abusing a doctor at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

He was accused of calling the doctor a “P*** B******” and spitting on the doctor’s face.

Mr. McKeown also attempted to physically assault another hospital employee.

Police responded to calls made at around 4:30 pm and arrived whilst Mr. McKeown was being restrained by five members of hospital staff in the emergency department.

The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges of assault, disorderly conduct at Causeway Hospital, and damage to a police cell inflicted after his arrest.

The prosecutor said in court that: “This is being prosecuted as a hate crime”.

Mr. McKeown’s barrister, whilst acknowledging the defendant’s behaviour as “disgraceful”, and pointed to Mr. McKeown’s drug abuse and general addiction problems.

Mr. Sean O’Hare – the Deputy District Judge – speaking to the defendant, said: “You are going to have to take some steps to try and distance yourself from your addiction problems.”

On handing down the 10-month prison sentence, Mr. O’Hare concluded that Mr. McKeown’s conduct was “disgraceful and shameful” and further justified the prison sentence by referring to Mr. McKeown’s previous convictions, including an assault on an ambulance worker.