Man who said he wanted to blow up Derry’s judge jailed

A Derryman who made what were described as ‘vile and disgusting’ comments about murdered PSNI constable Steven Carroll and Derry’s judge was jailed today at the local Magistrate’s Court.
Gary Campbell (28) of Northland Road in Derry was charged in connection with offences at the A&E department of Altnagelvin Hospital on February 29.
The court heard that an ambulance crew requested police assistance after finding Campbell in ‘an agitated state’ around 5 a.m. that morning.
Police followed the ambulance to the hospital and a short time later they were asked to remove Campbell from the department.
They did so and told him he would not be allowed back in.
At this Campbell became abusive and threw a plastic bottle of water at a police officer hitting her on the head. He then shouted ‘tiocfaidh at la’. he was arrested and then said ‘Steven Carroll was a good shot hope you are next. ‘
He continued to be abusive and then referred to Derry’s judge he said ‘I would like to blow up Barney McElholm and his children as he is nothing but an Orange bastard. ‘
District judge McElholm asked did defence solicitor Kevin Casey want another judge to deal with the case but the solicitor said no.
He said his client had no recollection of the events and was ‘disgusted’ when told what he had said. Judge McElholm said the comments were ‘vile and disgusting’.
He said he did not care what was said about him but the comments about Constable were disgusting.
The judge said a hospital was supposed to be a place of sanctuary and patients and staff had to be protected.
Campbell was sentenced to three months in prison.