Patient jailed for makeshift weapon at Belfast hospital

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 06:22 · Archive

A 45-year-old man has been jailed for six months after fashioning leather gloves with a metal clip into a weapon at a Belfast hospital.

Michael Magill, 45, of no fixed abode, was jailed for six months after incidents at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. He pleaded guilty to threats to kill, common assault, disorderly behaviour and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

On 14 August, Magill became aggressive while seeking treatment. He shouted and swore at security staff, saying he would 'get them all', then put on leather gloves and picked up a metal clip which he placed over his knuckles as a makeshift weapon. He threatened to use it on staff while other patients were present.

Six days later, Magill was involved in a separate confrontation with a security officer at the same hospital. During this incident he told the officer: 'I will see you about and I will kill you.' He then puffed out his chest, clenched his fists and said: 'You will remember me.' As he made an approach, the staff member had to move out of the way to defend himself.

In court, Magill told Belfast Magistrates' Court that 'it was just verbal, I wasn't planning to do it'. His defence counsel said he suffers from a brain injury and was attending the hospital for treatment, and was in a state of distress, though his behaviour 'obviously went too far'.

How it is being reported

• Belfast hospital patient made makeshift weapon out of leather gloves and metal clipAs the 45-year-old was jailed a court heard he also threatened to kill a security guardBelfast Live · 31 Oct, 06:00
• Patient jailed after using leather gloves with metal clip as makeshift weaponBelfast Telegraph · 30 Oct, 14:06

In this story: Michael Magill · Royal Victoria Hospital · Belfast · Belfast Magistrates' Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log