Woman assaulted paramedic as he responded to call

A WOMAN who assaulted an on-duty paramedic appeared in Bray District Court last week.

Margaret Joyce (35), 44 Rivendale Grove, Greystones, also admitted taking perfume and aftershave from Sam McCauley’s in Greystones on May 31, 2018.

On September 13, 2016, gardaí were called to a house at Rivendale Grove. Ambulance staff were struggling with the defendant.

A paramedic was assaulted, the court heard, while trying to assist someone else in the house. The court heard that the paramedic’s injuries were very minor and he returned to work immediately.

A barrister for the defendant said that Joyce had been in an abusive relationship at the time of the theft and had been threatened by her partner to commit the theft. He said that she apologises to the court.

Regarding the assault, the defendant was highly intoxicated at the time on alcohol and drugs, the court heard. She had not intended to assault the paramedic but had cut her arm and was bleeding. She was, in her mind, trying to prevent the ambulance staff from being contaminated with hepatitis C.

Judge David Kennedy ordered a probation report and adjourned the matter to January 17.