Corkman used timber with protruding screws to attack paramedic 

Garda Simone Gilman-Burke told Judge John Martin what happened at the CUH on June 27, 2022, at the sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Gilman-Burke said there was no connection between the parties and that what happened was random and unprovoked.

The ambulance paramedic was waiting with a patient who was being processed before formal admission to the hospital. George Irwin was in another room and suddenly emerged with a length of timber which had been used as skirting. For no reason he struck out at the paramedic causing cuts to his arm.

The reason for Mr Irwin’s presence at the hospital in the first place was that he had been admitted arising out of his state of intoxication.

Judge John Martin was told that the paramedic was upset that such a thing could occur in his workplace.

Prosecution barrister Paula McCarthy said of the accused: “Alcohol is a feature of his life. He is 70. He was very cooperative with the gardaí. He was apologetic. He had no memory of doing it.

“He was aghast and ashamed at his own behaviour, what he had done to the injured party. He is doing very well and is not coming to the attention of gardaí since.” 

Judge Martin said the defendant should feel shocked and ashamed, adding that his actions were shameful.

The judge said that for no reason the accused called the paramedic a ‘big fucker’ and swung the implement at him.

Judge Martin suspended a 15-month sentence on condition that the accused would continue with treatment for his alcohol problem.