A man who damaged beyond repair a coffee machine at the A&E department of Craigavon Area Hospital is to appeal three month prison sentence.
Sentencing the 34-year-old, the deputy district judge commented: “People that behave like this in a hospital deserve to go to prison”.
Patrick Joseph Ward, whose address is given as HMP Maghaberry, appeared for sentencing on criminal damage, two counts of disorderly behaviour and common assault at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court, via videolink from Maghaberry.
Prosecution outlined that on May 13, police received a report of a male, who was identified as the defendant, shouting and swearing in a Centra store on Lake Road in Craigavon.
The store manager claimed that when challenged Ward had threatened to throw donuts at him.
Then on January 27, of this year, at around 12.40am, police observed the defendant shaking the coffee machine in the foyer of the A&E department of Craigavon Area Hospital.
This caused loose change and coffee beans to fall to the ground with court being told that the machine had been damaged beyond repair and was valued at £5,988.
Defence barrister Conor Coulter informed the court that Ward was currently serving a sentence which was handed down by the Crown Court and was due for release on May 13.
He stated that the defendant accepted his behaviour was “abhorrent” and that he had been instructed that Ward had “very little recollection”.
Mr Coulter asked if the case could be deferred for Ward to be “tested” in the community, adding that his client wished to move away from the Enniskeen area which was “the source of his offending”.
Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes stated: “I have taken into account what has been said…people that behave like this in a hospital deserve to go to prison, unless there is a significant mental health background.
“You do not have a significant mental health background, so you deserve to go to prison”.
Ward was sentenced to three months in prison in total.
Mr Coulter had bail to appeal this sentence fixed on the case at Craigavon Area Hospital, for which Ward received three months.
Bail was granted at £150 but Ward was not to be released pending this.
