‘PATIENT SPAT BLOOD AT COP & KICKED DOCTOR’

Man, 35, bailed over alleged attack

A MAN kicked a doctor in the chest and spat blood over a policeman’s face before claiming to have Covid19, a court heard yesterday.

Ryan Hagan, 35, is also accused of attacking other officers and ripping down curtains during a suspected drugfuelled outburst at Antrim Area Hospital.

A defence lawyer described his alleged behaviour after being admitted on Tuesday as “completely deplorable”.

Hagan appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Belfast, on a total of 12 charges. He faces counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, three assaults on police, threatening to kill an officer and assaulting the doctor.

Further charges include disorderly behaviour, three counts of damaging a police officer’s uniform, and criminal damage to a PSNI cell van.

District Judge George Conner was told Hagan became aggressive after he collapsed and was brought to hospital.

He damaged a bed on the ward, kicked the doctor in his chest and struck a policeman on the face, it was claimed.

Opposing bail, a PSNI officer said: “He then spat blood all over the constable’s face.”

Hagan followed that by allegedly attempting to headbutt the policeman and ignoring warnings about swearing. The officer claimed: “He stated that he had Covid-19 while attempting to spit on all the officers present.”

She contended the violence continued after he was arrested, with blood and saliva spat over the cell van.

Hagan, of Queens Park in Newtownabbey, North Belfast, was granted bail under conditions including a ban on contacting the doctor or entering Antrim Area Hospital unless admitted as a patient.