Psychiatric nurse charged with assaulting Craigavon Hospital mental patient

By Paul Higgins

A male psychiatric nurse was in court today charged with causing actual bodily harm to a mental health patient. 

As well as being accused of ABH, Patrick Maguire (age unknown) was also charged with the ill-treatment of the alleged victim who was under his care at the Rosebrook Unit, Bluestone at Craigavon Area Hospital on 27 October last year. 

Maguire, from Tollymore Brae in Newcastle, was further charged with causing criminal damage to the male patient’s false teeth and attempting to pervert the course of justice by “making an entry on the Datix system and handover sheet” on the same date. 

Although none of the circumstances surrounding the allegations were opened at Craigavon Magistrates Court, a police officer gave evidence that he believed he could connect the defendant to each of the charges while a prosecuting lawyer asked for the case to be adjourned to 2 February for a “full file.”

A defence solicitor for Maguire applied for legal aid, revealing that the defendant had worked as a psychiatric nurse but due to the circumstances had been suspended from his job and had no income. 

Putting the vase back to 2 February, District Judge Bernie Kelly adjourned the legal aid matter to find out “who was putting a roof over his head.”