'Serious matter' - 'Distressing' Kilkenny hospital assault

A judge has described the assault of a hospital staff member as ‘probably one of the most serious matters to come before this court’.

Judge Geraldine Carthy was handing down her sentence in an assault case where Margaret Doran, 1 Rope Walk, Staplestown Road, Carlow, was convicted of assault causing harm.

The assault occurred in the resuscitation room of St Luke’s hospital on December 23, 2023.

Ms Doran put her hands around the injured party’s neck, leaving her with marks and scratches as well as neck pain afterwards.

The judge said the injured party had been very distressed by the incident and by having to give evidence in court.

She had thought very carefully about the matter, Judge Carthy said.
Aggravating factors in the case were the location where the assault happened and that it then took a bench warrant to bring Ms Doran into court for sentencing.

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Judge Carthy said she did not believe this was a case where a Community Service Order was appropriate and imposed an eight month prison sentence.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client had been suffering from a drug-induced psychosis at the time of the assault and she was admitted to the hospital’s Department of Psychiatry later on the day of the incident.

Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal on conditions including that Ms Doran have no contact with the injured party, sign on at a garda station, be of good behaviour and intoxicant free.