Jail for knife-wielding patient

Christopher Quigley claimed he was carrying the blade in his bag to go fishing, a judge was told.

The 38-year-old, of Hamill Street in the city, was convicted of disorderly behaviour and possessing a knife in a public place.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he was taken to the hospital on July 26 after being discovered with a suspected fractured skull.

A sheathed hunting knife was found inside his duffle bag after he arrived for treatment.

“The defendant became irate, pressing a call button continuously,” a Crown lawyer said.

“He was shouting and swearing, despite being warned that the ward was busy with (other) patients and staff.”

She added: “He made full admissions to possessing the hunting knife, however he stated that it was for fishing.”

Defence counsel Joel Lyndsay told the court Quigley had been homeless and wandering the streets with the duffle bag when he sustained a serious head injury.

“He certainly wasn’t compos mentis,” the barrister submitted.

Quigley was also dealt with for breaching a probation order and a separate common assault on his sister in June.

According to Mr Lyndsay that incident involved a tussle during a family row.