FIVE men from Limassol were yesterday remanded in custody for their involvement in the violent brawl that forced the Emergency Room at Limassol General Hospital to close down for one and a half hour in the early hours of Sunday.
Staff and patients were terrorized as about 40 young men from rival groups clashed, armed with stones and blubs and smashing up the facilities. Four men were wounded, including two police officers, and considerable damage was caused.
Two of the men remanded, a 26-year-old and a 29-year-old, were arrested at a private clinic in Limassol while receiving treatment for the injuries they sustained, while the other three men, a 23-year-old, a 26-year-old and a 28-year-old had been wanted since Sunday morning and were arrested in the evening of the same day.
Police are also investigating the involvement of an off-duty police officer in the incidents. “From the first moment, investigations began to ascertain under what circumstances the police officer got involved in the incidents. We are also investigating the possibility that misconduct has been committed. Investigations are still at an initial stage and as soon as they are completed, we will send a report to the Police Chief,” said Andreas Angelides, Limassol Police Director.
The incident started at a bar in Gladstonos Street in Limassol at approximately 3.30am, when a group of about 80 young men, divided in two rival groups, decided to resolve their differences by violent fist-fights. An off-duty police officer, who reportedly sided with one of the groups, was allegedly involved in the fight and sustained an injury to the head. According to the police report, the off-duty police officer arrived at the scene at the time the brawl started and was attacked by a group of the men, as soon as they realised he was a policeman.
Police reinforcements arrived and managed to stop the fighting; the off-duty officer was taken to Limassol Hospital, where his head injury was stitched up. Meanwhile, an angry mob of men who wanted to confront the off-duty officer gathered outside the hospital. A second police officer who tried to prevent the men from entering the ER was attacked and injured.
The mob, holding stones and clubs entered the ER, breaking everything they found, including doors, windows and chairs and throwing stones. As a result, considerable damage was caused, while the room flooded as the mob broke the water supply pipes. A police officer arrested a 26-year-old involved in the incident, but the man managed to escape. The man was arrested later and, together with four other men, appeared before Court yesterday where a remand order was issued.
Hospital security in the spotlight
SUNDAY’S incident brought the issue of security at Limassol Hospital to the forefront, as violent incidents are not uncommon at the Emergency Room, particularly during the night. Nursing staff representatives have requested a meeting with the Minister of Health Christos Patsalides, in the presence of the Police Chief, to discuss the need for measures to boost security.
“The process must be speeded up and punishment should be imposed on those responsible for the incident, so that it is made clear that the Emergency Room cannot be turned into an arena,” said Yiorgos Flourentzos, President of the Nurses Association.
“The situation is out of control, and despite our constant calls, police presence remains non-existent,” said Yiannis Ioannou, Limassol Hospital Emergency Room Officer.
“The situation is dangerous both for staff and patients. This is not the first time such incidents are taking place, without any measures being taken. We suggested for security checks to take place at the entry to the ER, as things get worse during the night hours, when the place is packed with various situations known to society,” Ioannou added.
“It is not enough to place special policing for the hospital’s security, but changes need to be made on the building’s interior layout. The emergency room entrance has been turned into the hospital’s main entrance and a meeting place,” said Stavros Stavrou, the President of the public sector doctors’ association.
Minister Patsalides has expressed concern about the events and asked for police patrols and security to be boosted at the hospital, particularly during weekends.
