A distraught boyfriend launched a terrifying hammer attack on psychiatric hospital staff he blamed for the death of his girlfriend.
Doctors and nurses desperately hid from Duncan MacLaren as he smashed up equipment and windows at New Craigs Hospital in Inverness on October 27 last year.
The 29-year-old, of Nethybridge, also attacked a doctor and a staff nurse.
The incident happened less than a year after MacLaren’s girlfriend, Jade McGrath, was found dead near the hospital.
At Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, MacLaren was jailed for 18 months after previously admitting the offences.
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As he left the dock, he said: “She did not kill herself, by the way. She was a victim of medical negligence.”
Defence solicitor Neil Wilson said his client “still harbours a grudge” against the hospital but not the individuals concerned. He said MacLaren, of Nethybridge, apologised “unreservedly” to them.
The court heard MacLaren had walked into the hospital armed with the hammer and smashed up an office before threatening to kill members of staff.
MacLaren had been reported as missing shortly before entering New Craigs and walking into Maree Ward. He then went into a nurses’ office where he launched his terrifying attack in the presence of five members of staff.
Fiscal depute David Morton said: “He was brandishing a hammer and started shouting and striking out at objects with it.
“He repeatedly struck it off a desk, hitting items on the desk, including a telephone and computer keyboard.”
Three people could not get out of the office because a chair had overturned and was blocking the door.
MacLaren then smashed a window before one nurse set off the attack alarm, bringing other members of staff rushing to the scene.
A doctor tried to hold the office door closed to stop MacLaren getting out and into the ward.
But he smashed the handle before knocking the doctor to the floor and kicking him in the ribs.
On the ward, a staff nurse used a chair as a shield and advanced towards MacLaren.
Mr Morton added: “The accused then threw the hammer at him, striking him on his left side and was punched in the face.”
Clearly, this was a terrifying incident for the staff.
MacLaren retreated back into the office where he continued to shout and swear, claiming that staff had killed his girlfriend.
“Clearly, this was a terrifying incident for the staff and this was witnessed by patients there who, due to the nature of the ward, are vulnerable,” Mr Morton said.
Defence solicitor Mr Wilson added: “He reacted very badly to the bereavement in his personal life and was self-medicating by drinking too much alcohol.”
MacLaren was jailed for a further six months for assaulting an Aviemore taxi driver on July 23, 2019.
New Craigs at five year high for reported number of missing patients
As previously revealed in the P&J, the number of patients reported missing from New Craigs Hospital in Inverness have reached a five-year high.
In total, 110 patients were reported missing in 2019, a rise of 33 on the year previous.
The psychiatric hospital has experienced a steady rise in the number of patients reported missing, more than doubling since 46 patients were found to be absent in 2016.
The revelation led to calls from a local politician for NHS Highland to intervene in the best interests of patients safety.
MSP Edward Mountain said he was “disappointed to see so many patients leaving New Craigs without having fully completed their treatment”.
He added: “It is incredibly important that NHS Highland make sure they follow up each case to ensure people are not being left without help or treatments.”
In total 416 patients have been reported missing from New Craigs over the five-year timeframe, falling second only to Raigmore where 658 patients were reported missing over the same period.
NHS Highland said checks are carried out at the start and end of each nursing shift to ensure the whereabouts of each patient is known.
They said that patients, unless critically ill, are free to come and go as they please.
Meetings are also regularly held between the health board and Police Scotland in an effort to reduce the number of missing patients from New Craigs.
A spokeswoman added: “Every effort is made to minimise the risk of patients going missing through implementing appropriate preventative measures but if a patient is reported missing the appropriate policies are followed.”
