Knifeman sentence sends totally wrong message on hospital attacks - Long

7.04.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Oct 2006

Alliance Party Vice Chair Michael Long

Alliance Party Vice Chair Michael Long has said the lenient sentence given to a man who threatened a doctor with a knife at the Ulster Hospital. A Greyabbey man received only a one month probation for the offence.

The Castlereagh Councillor stated: "Led by my party colleague Kieran McCarthy, my party has long campaigned on the issue of violence against hospital staff. So what sort of message does such a minor sentence send out on this issue?

"It is quite astonishing that having committed such an offence, a man can walk free. This indicates that the whole legal and political system is not taking the issue at all seriously.

"It is unacceptable that hospital staff should work in fear. They need proper protection, and that includes proper sentencing of those who cause that fear."

ENDS