Man due in court on hospital death charge INMO CALLS FOR ‘FULL SECURITY AUDIT’

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Harris said: “The safety of Gardaí is of utmost importance and concern for An Garda Síochána, myself as Commissioner, and all four Garda Representative Associations.

“While all Gardaí accept policing has its risks, there can never be any excuse for these disgraceful attacks.

“It is not acceptable that a small minority in society feel that Gardaí can be attacked just because they are carrying out their duties.”

And he told the representative bodies that the organisation would be seeking to procure enhanced and additional safety equipment for gardai. Harris added that recruitment had dropped in the last two years.

The sergeant cited the seriousness of the incident and alleged the accused was caught red-handed assaulting an officer on duty. He furnished the court with photos of the injury, which he described as “life-long lasting deformities to his finger”.

State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. The results were not released for operational reasons.

Patients who saw the attack unfold have been moved to another ward. A full probe has been launched into the incident.

A senior investigating garda has been appointed and an incident room has been established at the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork city centre.

Community

Mr Healy is survived by his two adult sons and daughter. He also had eight grandchildren.

Local Fianna Fail councillor Michael Looney told Cork’s 96FM that Mr

Healy was deeply respected in the local community in Berrings.

“He lost his wife less than three weeks ago. He was well rooted in Berrings. He could be the third or fourth generation there,” Cllr Looney said.

“He was a regular morning massgoer. Himself and Delia. They would always go down for the paper and a chat.

“When you go in to hospital you think you are safe. You would never think you would come out deceased after being attacked.

“It is hard to get your head around it.”

Cllr Looney added that it was an “untimely death for one of the old greats”.

“He had a lovely potato run on Saturday mornings and he would go house to house with a word for everyone,” he said of Mr Healy.

“He was spot on on-time and rigid to his duty. He was a real gent and it is hard to come to terms with it.

“I am here in Berrings forty yeas and I think [Matthew] was the first person to welcome me to Berrings and I will never forget him for it because I was a stranger coming in. He was the same gentleman from the day I met him to the day he was deceased.

“I wish to confirm my condolences to the family from myself and behalf of the people of Berrings as well. “MUH also issued a statement on Sunday in which they said that they are “saddened and shocked at the tragic and unexpected death of an elderly patient in an incident in the hospital.”

The hospital has also expressed their “deepest condolences” to the family, relatives and friends of the deceased.”