Teen jailed over ‘hostile and aggressive' behaviour in hospital waiting area
A Belfast teenager who assaulted police when they were sent to hospital to help staff deal with her, was handed a two month jail sentence today.
After Leila Murray entered guilty pleas to assaulting police and using disorderly behaviour at Antrim Area Hospital, a prosecuting lawyer told Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, how nursing staff had asked police to come and help them with an aggressive patient on 23 September last year.
She outlined how Murray, who appeared at court by video link from prison, was 'hostile and aggressive towards staff, shouting and swearing in the waiting area where children and babies were present.'
When officers arrived to try to assist, Murray lashed out and the court heard she kicked one officer in the chest and bit him on the ring finger, causing a 'minor laceration.'
Highlighting that Murray 'knows the court takes a dim view' of such behaviour in hospitals, defence counsel Thomas McKeever said the homeless teenager had been there as a result of a psychotic episode and 'is ashamed of herself.'
He revealed that sadly, it's not the first time this year that Murray has been dealt with for an incident arising in a hospital setting.
In April at Belfast Magistrates Court, Murray was handed a six month sentence over an incident at the Mater Hospital in the north of the city.
In that case the court heard how Murray head-butted a female nurse in the stomach and kicked her colleague several times before standing on a chair and lunging at two security guards who tried to negotiate with her.
As staff restrained her she continued lashing out violently and shouted, 'I have HIV and hepatitis, I'm going to infect all of you' before proceeding to bite and scratch at one of the guards, breaking the skin, and spitting directly in his eyes.
Continuing to shout about her infectious diseases, the teenager also bit a nurse and kicked two police officers as they removed her from the scene.
Mr McKeever suggested that if the Antrim case had been dealt with at the same time, Murray may not have received any additional sentencing and urged District Judge Nigel Broderick not to interfere with her release date.
Describing it as a 'nasty assault,' the judge imposed a two month prison sentence to be served concurrently.
Leila Murray
News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025
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