David Raleigh
An orthopaedic surgeon pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, on Tuesday, to charges of assaulting three people, producing a fire extinguisher as a weapon, and causing criminal damage, at a Limerick City hotel, three years ago.
Dr Emmett Cullen, (50), of Silverbrook, Mill Road, Corbally, Limerick, was a guest staying at the hotel when he went “completely berserk” there, on May 4th, 2023, alleged prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan BL.
Dr Cullen armed himself with two fire extinguishers, thrashing parts of the hotel, and assaulted other guests, Mr O’Sullivan alleged on the opening day of the trial being held at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU) attached to An Garda Siochana were deployed to the hotel and they discharged a taser and pepper spray to subdue and apprehend the accused, it was heard.
Mr O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor for Limerick City, Padraig Mawe, and assisted by Detective Garda Gareth Walsh, said the accused “went completely out of control” at the hotel on the second night of a two-night stay.
CCTV footage was shown in court of a man identified by gardai as Dr Cullen “swinging” a fire extinguisher at guests and patrons, throwing chairs, smashing televisions, glasses, tables and lights, during the 20-minute “ordeal”.
Mr O’Sullivan said Dr Cullen used the fire extinguishers as a “weapon” causing almost €40,000 worth of damage at the hotel, located at Steamboat Quay, Limerick City.
Detective Garda Walsh played a series of CCTV clips which the prosecution alleged showed the accused thrashing the hotel.
“What’s also evident is the accused lunges at two children after shouting at them. He is also seen chasing these two children and is stopped by their mother,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
Detective Garda Walsh identified the accused in the footage swinging a fire extinguisher at two women aged in their 70s, and smashing a table they were sitting at causing cuts to their fingers.
Garda Walsh said the footage also showed the accused discharging two fire extinguishers around the hotel.
Mr O’Sullivan read to the court witness statements provided by a family who were staying at the hotel on the night.
One of the witnesses told gardaí she heard a man “shouting” as he approached her seven-year-old daughter and 14-year-old niece, calling them “evil”.
The woman, who was pregnant at the time, said the man “attempted to assault me” and her father intervened, and “we got out of the way”.
The woman’s sister told gardaí she also saw a man “holding a fire extinguisher” and “shouting” at the children.
The hotel’s night manager, Kieran Bradshaw, who was on duty at the time, told gardaí that prior to the incident, the accused wanted to upgrade from his room to the hotel’s penthouse suite, but he was informed it was not available.
Mr Bradshaw said, later that night, he heard a man he now knows to be the accused shouting, “Where are my kids?”, brandishing a fire extinguisher, verbally abusing two children and thrashing the hotel.
“He said he was going to smash me in the face, he had a look of rage in his eyes, and he left a trail of destruction in the bar,” Mr Bradshaw told gardaí.
Detective Garda Walsh said two armed gardaí eventually subdued the accused in the hotel’s restaurant kitchen after discharging a taser and pepper spray.
Det Garda Walsh said the accused told the gardaí, “I won’t get back," and he asked, “Where are my kids?”.
Det Garda Walsh said the accused initially “resisted” arrest, but he eventually complied and told gardaí: “Ok, ok, I’m sorry about this.”
The Garda agreed with Mr O’Sullivan that he initially detained the accused “under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act, as you believed the accused may have had a mental breakdown and a psychotic episode”.
Gard Walsh also told the accused’s barrister, senior counsel Anthony Salmon, with Aaron Desmond BL, instructed by Hebert & Co Solicitors, that Section 12 of the Act “gives me power to arrest if I believe (a suspect) is of unsound mind or in a mental health episode”.
The trial continues on Wednesday before a jury of six women and six men.
