A MAN who became aggressive and made threatening comments to emergency services staff when he was being treated in hospital has been given a six-month prison sentence.

Christopher Boyle (23), of Main Street, Ballinamallard, was attended to by police officers on February 11, who were responding to reports of a group of males in Ballinamallard.

When they arrived, Boyle – who was appearing in court on Monday via videolink from Maghaberry Prison – was bleeding and in a distressed state. He said that he wanted to take his own life “cutting his throat”.

Officers detained Boyle under a mental health order and he was taken to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) for treatment.

Abusive messages

While at the SWAH, Boyle shouted several abusive messages such as “F**k the NHS”.

He also tried to intimidate officers by making references to the murders of police officer Ronan Kerr and prison officer David Black.

The court heard that Boyle also told the officers to check under their vehicles, and asked them how it would feel if their family was blown up, while he also said he was going to kill them if it was the last thing he does.

Boyle then attempted to headbutt an officer in their midriff, and tried to strike another one by grabbing their clothes.

Ciaran Roddy, Boyle’s barrister, pointed out to the court that his client had benefitted from a fortunate prosecution direction for what was an “utterly distasteful series of events”.

The incident took place while Boyle had two suspended sentences hanging over him, and Mr. Roddy said his client was aware of what awaits him.

He added that the fact that Boyle was brought into the hospital under a mental health order rather than arrest gives an insight into the lenient way the matter was brought to court, and he pointed out that no injuries were caused to the officers.

District Judge Steven Keown activated the two suspended sentences of four months to run concurrently, and then handed down a further two-month sentence for assault on police to run consecutively, totalling a six-month sentence.