Belfast hospital patient allegedly threw waste bin at nursing staff and carried out a sexual assault

​Police claimed Gerard Kane “charged” at victims bare-chested and made a throat-slitting gesture during the outburst.

The 61-year-old defendant, of North Queen Street in the city, was refused bail.

Kane faces charges of common assault, attempted criminal damage and sexual assault over the incident at the Royal Victoria Hospital in the city on October 3 this year.

Belfast magistrates’ court heard he was being treated as a patient on one of the wards but rushed out of a side room, punched a wall-mounted notice board and kicked a nearby fire exit door.

“A deputy sister reported being charged at by Kane before he grabbed her wrist, causing pain,” a PSNI officer said.

The defendant allegedly approached her again a short time later at a nursing station and removed his own top.

“He then pointed at her, using his finger and thumb to draw a line across his own throat in a throat-slicing motion,” the officer claimed.

At one point he allegedly went back into the room, lifted a metal clinical waste bin and hurled it at another nurse.

She was forced to move out of the way to avoid being struck.

The court heard he also rushed at her with balled firsts, causing fear that she was about to be subjected to a violent attack.

One woman present on the ward had to put barricades after she was targeted, according to police.

She claimed Kane touched her, mimicked sexual gestures and spat on the back of her head.

Bail was opposed over what was described as a “nasty” outburst.

Defence lawyers argued he should be released at this stage due to lack of progress in the prosecution.

However, district judge George Conner decided Kane must remain in custody.

He ruled: “I’m not minded to grant bail. I don’t think there has been sufficient delay.”