Man used length of timber to attack paramedic at CUH

A LENGTH of timber with screws protruding from it was used by a 70-year-old Kinsale man to attack an ambulance paramedic at the emergency unit of Cork University Hospital (CUH) in a totally unprovoked incident.

George Irwin of Haven Bay, Kinsale, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to production of an article capable of causing injury, in order to intimidate another person, and a count of obstructing gardaí.

At the sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Garda Simone Gilman-Burke told Judge John Martin what happened at CUH that day, June 27, 2022.

Garda Gilman-Burke said there was no connection between the parties and that what happened was random and unprovoked.

The ambulance paramedic was waiting with a patient who was being processed before formal admission to the hospital. Irwin was in another room and suddenly emerged with a length of timber which had been used as skirting. For no reason he struck out at the paramedic, causing cuts to his arm.

The reason for Irwin’s presence at the hospital in the first place was that he had been admitted arising out of his state of intoxication.

Judge Martin was told that the paramedic was upset that such a thing could occur in his workplace.

Barrister Paula McCarthy said of the accused: 

"Alcohol is a feature of his life. He is 70. He was very co-operative with the gardaí. He was apologetic. He had no memory of doing it. He was aghast and ashamed at his own behaviour, what he had done to the injured party. He is doing very well and is not coming to the attention of gardaí since.”

Judge Martin said the defendant should feel shocked and ashamed. He said that for no reason the accused called the paramedic a ‘big f***er’ and swung the implement at him.

Judge Martin suspended a 15-month sentence on condition that the accused would continue with treatment for his alcohol problem.