Man spat at nurse sitting in her vehicle

A man who spat on the windscreen of a car while a female nurse was inside the vehicle at the Psychiatric Unit (pictured) attached to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has been remanded on bail.

The court heard that David Murphy, with an address in Slane, attended the unit seeking treatment at around 6am.

At around 6.25am on Sunday, June 25th he went over to the nurse’s car and spat on the windscreen, Inspector Brendan Cadden told the court.

He said Murphy also punched the wingmirror of another car.

Inspt Cadden said Murphy had been looking for treatment at the facility and was refused. He said the defendant has a long history of illness and also a long history in the court. He said Murphy is on a lot of medication and agreed he suffered from psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia.

After hearing the defendant wasn’t well, Judge Coughlan said he would apply the Probation Act.

However, Inspt Cadden said Murphy had been given a suspended sentence at the previous week’s sitting of Drogheda Court.

‘Something needs to be done because he’s doing what he wants when he’s not here,’ said the Inspector.

Agreeing, Judge Coughlan said the problem was that jail would not be a suitable location for the defendant in the circumstances.

He remanded Murphy on bail of €100 to appear before Drogheda District Court on Friday, July 26th and granted legal aid to Solicitor Sean Sheehan.

Judge Coughlan ordered Murphy to have no contact with the psychiatric unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.