MOST people who end up on a trolley in the emergency department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) can’t wait to get off it.
But a judge was told that Gardaí had to be called when one man refused to surrender the trolley and leave the ED at the Dooradoyle hospital.
Judge Patricia Harney was told that Brian Shanahan (35), of 53 Kenyon Street, Nenagh, County Tipperary, attended the ED on May 29.
But after he had been discharged by hospital staff, Mr Shanahan refused to leave and was “roaring and shouting abuse” in the public waiting room, the court heard.
At 3am on the date in question, he lay on a trolley and refused to get off it or leave the ED, “roaring and causing annoyance to staff and other patients.
His solicitor told Limerick District Court that Mr Shanahan “apologises profusely for his behaviour. He’s extremely embarrassed.”
Judge Harney said the incident was “horrific”.
“It’s everyone’s worst nightmare to be in an A&E and meet someone like him. It’s appalling,” she said.
The court heard Mr Shanahan had 65 previous convictions, including a large number for breach of the Public Order Act, as well as one conviction for arson.
Judge Harney sentenced Mr Shanahan to two periods of four weeks in jail on each of the two breach of public order charges he had pleaded guilty to, to run consecutively.
She set bail in the event of an appeal at €100.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
