A Tandragee man who interfered with the medical treatment paramedics were conducting on his partner, who had fallen out of a window, has been ordered to pay a fine of £250.
Sentencing the 26-year-old, the district judge commented: “What if the paramedics had left him to care for her with his medically qualified training? What if his girlfriend couldn’t get treated because of him and died?”
David Fletcher, of Mill Street, had a plea of guilty entered on his behalf to disorderly behaviour at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
Prosecution outlined that on August 30, at 9pm, police were attending another incident in Tandragee when they were approached by a member of the public.
They informed officers that a female had jumped from the window of a property on Mill Street.
Upon arrival, police observed the female on the pavement with a male, later identified as the defendant, beside her.
Officers removed Fletcher as paramedic staff assisted the female but he proceeded to push past them and interfered with the medical intervention.
The defendant then became verbally abusive towards officers, shouting phrases such as “f*** the police”.
Defence counsel stated that Fletcher had been under the influence of alcohol and had been “acting out of concern” for his partner.
He added that the defendant wished to apologise for his actions on this evening.
District Judge Bernie Kelly commented: “What if the paramedics had left him to care for her with his medically qualified training? What if his girlfriend couldn’t get treated because of him and died?”
Fletcher was ordered to pay a fine of £250, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 10 weeks.