‘Out of control’ man assaults Limerick hospital guards and shop workers

A MAN who spat at, bit, and lunged at security guards at University Hospital Limerick has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Killian Kirby, 35, with an address at Kilcaragh, Lixnaw, Kerry told security at the front desk of UHL that “he wanted medication and he wanted 5b” on December 11, 2025. Prosecuting sergeant Denis Waters said Mr Kirby then hit the security guard on the side of the head.

Security guards then had to restrain Mr Kirby. The man bit one on the left arm during the restraint. Mr Kirby also told another security guard he’d spit in his face – which he did.

Earlier that day, Mr Kirby became aggressive at Maxol on St. Nessan’s Road when his attempt to make payment declined. Mr Kirby then head-butted one employee, and caused a second employee a minor injury. As he left the shop he took two cans of Monster energy drink.

Solicitor Tom Kiely, representing Mr Kirby at Limerick District Court, said that the man is “deeply ashamed of his actions”, and that he was going through a psychotic episode at the time of the offences.

Judge Catherine Ryan sympathised with patients who may have been impacted by the assault at the hospital: “The last thing they wanted was some maniac when they were coming in to receive treatment.”

A victim impact statement detailed that Mr Kirby’s “eyes were on fire” during the offence. Mr Kiely said in mitigation that Mr Kirby “is a man who is ordinarily medicated” and that “because of his state he was not in a good place physically or mentally”.

The solicitor said that Mr Kirby had five to six security guards on top of him at UHL.

He said that Mr Kirby’s offending was a case of “a very unwell person seeking medical help, gone completely wrong”. Mr Kiely detailed that the man usually works as a machine operator.

Sgt Waters told the court that Mr Kirby has 39 previous convictions, including making a threat to kill. The judge said: “All of these are evidence of a person absolutely out of control”, and proceeded to sentence Mr Kirby to six months’ imprisonment.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme

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