A psychiatric nurse has been sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting a patient who was being restrained by other staff at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum.
Judge Donagh McDonagh at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told the Director of Public Prosecutions was satisfied that the victim, Gary Connell (35), who died later on the same day of the assault didn't die as a result of the injuries caused by the accused. Bernard Cullen (47) of Hillview, Gormanstown, Co Kildare pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Connell on September 19, 2001. Mr Connell was restrained after he stabbed a care worker in the eye and face with a piece of broken mirror. Although he sustained severe cuts to his face the man has since recovered and his sight has not been affected. Cullen, who was also the care officer in charge of control and restraint, arrived as staff were trying to take Mr Connell down a set of stairs and told them that he would take over the escort of the patient. Dr Marie Cassidy, the State pathologist, concluded that Mr Connell had died of "asphyxiation and compromised breathing" due to vomit in his oesophagus. She said that although there were facial and head injuries there was no evidence of brain damage and the injuries caused by Cullen would have healed in time. Judge McDonagh said he thought society would be "rightly aghast" at what happened to Mr Connell who was under Cullen's care. He added that he could not see how any carer would need to resort to punching and kicking a patient and described Cullen's behaviour as "shocking, unacceptable and criminal." He said that while Mr Connell was both "a violent and vulnerable man" he was first and foremost a patient in the Central Mental Hospital. He took into account "certain criticisms were levelled against the hospital" but added that no amount of training could have changed what happened. He suspended the last two years of the sentence having take into account favourable testimonials put forward on Cullen's behalf and his previous good character and added he took no pleasure in jailing him but he didn't think he had any other option.