A YOUNG OFFENDER who trashed Beaumont Hospital’s emergency department was high on drugs believed to have been supplied to him during a visit at the Oberstown detention centre.

The offender, who was sent to Oberstown due to a number of violent crimes, went on a rampage through the campus after taking the drugs. He locked himself into a room at the centre. When staff managed to break through and get him, it was decided to bring him to hospital as it appeared he may have been suffering an overdose.

He became more violent when he entered the hospital and managed to barricade himself into the toilets. He then ripped off a metal bar from the toilets and began to smash windows. A number of elderly patients in the emergency department suffered cuts as a result of being showered in the glass.

Patients were removed from the area as those who had escorted the boy to hospital tried to restrain him. Gardaí were called and the offender managed to escape through a window. He has since been returned to Oberstown. This is not the first time that this particular young offender has used illegal substances at the campus.

A woman attending Beaumont on Friday night said the hospital was put on lockdown.

She said: “I was attending Beaumont at the time of the incident last night. The whole emergency department was put on lockdown down and all patients were evacuated to the main waiting area.

“I had a glass window put in on top of me but escaped unharmed unlike some others.

“Patients and relatives were cut by the glass. Elderly patients had their window put in on top of them too and were cut.

“He had the bar off the toilet was swinging it at security.”

A garda spokeswoman said: “Gardaí in Santry were called to an incident that occurred in Beaumont Hospital Friday night the 6 July at approximately 11.45pm.

“A juvenile male caused criminal damage to a toilet within the hospital and escaped through the bathroom window.

“He also damaged some windows within the hospital. Male returned to Oberstown Care Centre and will be charged at a later date. Investigations are ongoing.”