A 52-year-old lorry driver who lost both legs in an accident at his home attacked three female nurses while he was a patient at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.

Hugh McKillion thumped one of the women twice in the stomach as medical staff tried to stop him taking a fire extinguisher from its stand.

He appeared at Fermanagh Court in a wheelchair and admitted unlawfully assaulting the nurses on March 19, last year.

A prosecutor explained that at approximately 9.45am on March 19, last year, police were called to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. McKillion was a patient and was being aggressive towards medical staff. The officers spoke to several nurses who told them McKillion had left his room and tried to remove a fire extinguisher from its mounting on a wall. They had stopped him and were trying to take him back to his room when he thumped one of them twice in the abdomen. He attempted to kick another nurse but missed. He grabbed a third nurse by the hair and held her for about 30 seconds until other staff came and removed him. He was given a sedative and police remained at the hospital until he fell asleep. When spoken to later he said he was in the hospital for “detox” and denied assaulting any nurses.

The court heard that McKillion had a “very relevant” criminal record.

Defence solicitor Michael Fahy said any incidents that involve an assault on medical staff are regarded as very serious.

“They’re there to assist people,” he stated.

Mr. Fahy said McKillion, from Creggan Park, Omagh, had availed of “excellent assistance” from members of the medical profession and was “highly apologetic” for his actions. He was a double amputee as a result of a “tragic accident” in his home in 2007 and was waiting for prosthetic limbs. His problems are exacerbated by an inherently grave underlying alcohol problem.

The solicitor pointed out that McKillion’s last conviction was in 2007.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said these were obviously serious matters and could carry imprisonment.

He read a letter from McKillion’s GP and deferred sentencing for six months, until September 1, 2014.

He said he was doing so on the understanding that McKillion commits no further offences and co-operates with his GP and other agencies. If he does, he will be given a suspended prison sentence.

However, the District Judge warned McKillion that if he falls foul of the conditions of the deferral “you can expect to go to prison”.