Submachine guns amid stethoscopes: Limerick hospital ED chaos prompts armed response

ARMED gardai had to attend twice in the last two months at the emergency department (ED) in University Hospital Limerick following tragic deaths, to calm “volatile” family members, the Leader has learned.

A cavalcade of vehicles followed the ambulances, in both instances, with hysterical relatives “gatecrashing” the ED.

One source said: “They turn up in their droves and don’t take no for an answer. They go where they want and do what they want. No one else’s life matters, only their loved one. There is shouting, roaring, wailing, pushing, shoving, some are drunk and have drink with them  - it is chaos and becomes volatile very fast”.

The Leader has been informed that in one instance family members went into the resus room and interfered with doctors working on a patient. The Regional Armed Support Unit is deployed in support of unarmed gardai in certain high-risk situations.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice Niall Collins said: “Behaviour of that kind is not acceptable in a civilised society.” A garda spokesperson confirmed that officers responded to two “disturbances” at UHL on December 21. 

The Leader has also learned that gardai were also called to UHL due to an incident last week. Armed gardai attended in both instances to support their unarmed colleagues to calm the family members.

There were 44 patients in the ED at UHL on February 19 - the second highest in the country, according to the INMO. 

READ MORE: ‘I will kill you’: Limerick man tells gynaecologist after examination on woman

Mr Collins said the ED department at UHL is traumatic at the best of times for members of the public and to have a situation whereby the Regional Armed Support Unit need to be present is just “not acceptable”.

“No matter what grief or torment people are going through, they must conduct themselves in an appropriate manner that doesn't warrant officers having to attend the ED to ensure the safety of people.

"Gardai - both armed and unarmed - have more important matters to attend to.  Similarly, doctors, nurses and all hospital staff work in a pressurised environment as is, without having to deal with these disturbances,” said Mr Collins. 

UHL did not respond to a query in relation to the matter.