💾 Archived View for eir.mooo.com › nuacht › doi172043634014.gmi captured on 2024-07-09 at 01:47:35. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Paddy Leonard, 8 Jul
Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a man with a 'very serious
problem with alcohol' has been told his life expectancy is only a
matter of a few years if he continues on as he is doing.
Andrew McMillan (32) of Shearwater Way in Derry admitted a charge of
disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital and a charge of criminal
damage to a chair on March 10 this year.
He also admitted a charge of stealing goods valued at £206 from Marks &
Spencers on February 11.
The court heard that at 4am on March 10 police were called to A&E after
reports of a intoxicated male acting aggressively.
Staff told police that McMillan had been shouting and swearing and
other patients had to be moved due to his behaviour.
He had also damaged a chair valued at £400.
The court further was told that on February 11 at 4.15pm police were
called to Foyle Street after reports of a theft from the M&S store in
Foyleside.
They found the defendant lying unconscious in the street with a
shopping basket containing the stolen goods.
Defence counsel Brendan Kearney told the court that a pre-sentence
report had been ordered but it had not been possible to complete it.
He said that one thing in his favour was that he had brought £400 in
compensation for the damage to the chair.
District Judge Alan White said it was 'a sad case' and said his first
reaction was to impose an immediate custodial sentence as the court
takes 'a serious view' of disorderly behaviour in hospital.
However, he added he was not sure custody would do any good.
He sentenced McMillan to 8 months in prison suspended for two years and
ordered him to pay compensation of £400.