Muckamore Abbey care worker given suspended sentence for ill-treating a patient

Ryan Barry Mills (40), of The Gables, Randalstown, admitted the offence which took place at the hospital July 21, 2017.

The defendant was at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday. The victim's family were in the public gallery of the court.

The court was told the defendant had worked as a day care worker at Muckamore Abbey and was suspended. He resigned from his role on May 18, 2025.

A prosecutor said that on July 21 in 2017 there was an incident in the communal day space of Six Mile Ward. The defendant was seated on the counter of the nurse's bench within the day space. The victim "attempted to mount the nurse's bench, swinging at the defendant's face with his left hand".

The defendant stepped back to avoid contact and extended his hands in a "self-defensive manner".

The prosecutor said: "The victim attempted to climb the nurse's bench again, grabbing out at the defendant and the defendant at this stage avoided contact with the victim who again dismounted from the nurse's bench.

"Approximately five minutes later the victim attempted to climb the nurse's bench once more and whilst doing so swung his left hand out towards the defendant.

"The defendant took the victim's hand, pushing him backwards with force and the victim again grabbed out at the defendant with the defendant pushing the victim backwards.

"The victim continued to grab out at the defendant and the defendant then proceeded to push the victim backwards by pushing him to the face with his hand.

"He grabbed the back of the victim's head and pushed his head downwards so the victim's face was forced into the nurse's base.

"The application of force to the victim's head and face forms the basis of the directed complaint". The defendant told police he had pushed the patient to stop him getting "right over into the nurses' station".

"He told police he believed the victim had "tried to spit at him and that he tried to stop him spitting again".

A defence lawyer said the defendant accepts the behaviour was inappropriate. The defendant had no record.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said it was a very serious case and told the defendant: "You were in a position of trust. It was your role to ensure that the victim was property protected.

"He was a vulnerable individual. I accept that on occasions he could have presented with challenging behaviours but it was your role to deal with those challenging behaviours appropriately and on this occasion you failed to do so".

The judge said he had read a very moving victim impact statement from the victim's sister. He said the treatment of the patient was wholly inappropriate.

The defendant was given a four months jail term, suspended for two years.