"I have done my best"- Judge
8 May 1996
WOMAN JAILED FOR ASSAULT
ON NURSE IN CASUALTY DEPT
A member of the travelling community, and mother of twelve children, was sentenced to two months imprisonment at Castlebar court for an assault on a nurse at the casualty department of the Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar where her husband was being treated.
Judge Dan Shields said his Îpatience had run out' with Mary McDonagh (44),of the Halting Site, Castlebar. The defendant pleaded to assaulting nurse Josephine Hennelly on January 14 at the casualty department of the Mayo General Hospital where her husband was receiving treatment. Judge Shields also ordered another member of the travelling community, Ellen McDonagh, Halting Site, to stay away from the hospital unless she was in need of medical treatment.
He bound her to keep the peace for twelve months after she pleaded guilty to causing a disturbance, also at the casualty department on the same night. Judge Shields said nurses had a difficult job without being subjected to this type of criminal behaviour in the execution of their duty. His patience had run out with the McDonagh who had caused problems at the hospital before.
He accepted she had a large family and her husband had a sentence under appeal and it might end up that the family would be without both parents. However, he said, he had done his best to avoid sending members of the family to prison but he could not allow this kind of behaviour to go unpunished.
Inspector Willie Gallagher, prosecuting, said Mrs McDonagh's husband was taken to the casualty department of the hospital for treatment. Mrs McDonagh was under the impression her husband was suffering a heart attack and was not happy with the treatment he was getting.
When she was asked to go to the waiting room but refused. She then caught
nurse Hennelly by the throat and had to be restrained.
She was 'very aggressive and very abusive' on the night.
Connaught Telegraph - News - May 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sports - May 1996
