Man jailed for assaulting paramedics[18/12/2009 15:49]

A District Judge has jailed a 26 year old Derry man for three months for assaulting an ambulance crew who had been called to his aid.

While he was receiving treatment for a leg wound he had sustained earlier, he assaulted one of the members of the crew. Despite the assault the crew transported this patient to Altnagelvin hospital where he then spat at the other crew member and punched a police officer.

Jailing him for three months, Judge Barney McElholm said that he had shown no signs of remorse and told him that attacks on medical professionals would not be tolerated.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has welcomed the sentence passed down and hope that it will act as a deterrent to others.

"NIAS has been calling for a policy of zero tolerance in respect of assaults on our staff. We welcome the sentence passed today and, particularly, the comments of the judge that such attacks will not be tolerated. We hope that this sends out a message which is loud and which is clear.

Ambulance staff need to be left alone to do their work which is an important service to the community. Attacks such as these leave staff feeling vulnerable. It is up to the community to reject such behaviour and to support all who deliver services on their behalf"

Attacks on ambulance crews have increased over the past couple of years after a reduction brought about by heightened media and education campaigns.

The DHSSPS is continuing to work with the ambulance service and other health Trusts to eradicate these attacks with an ongoing Zero Tolerance campaign.