Registered nurse Bridie Burling disqualified for three years after assaulting random woman, police officer, hotel worker

A nurse who went on a five-month crime spree, which included a savage attack on a woman on the Gold Coast, has been banned for three years.

A nurse has been banned for the profession for three years over a five-month crime spree. Picture: File

A nurse who went on a five-month crime spree including assaulting a random woman on the street and separately kicking a cop in the groin, has been banned from the job for three years.

The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard that Bridie Burling was registered as an enrolled nurse from May 2019, but in July 2021 she failed to renew her registration.

In the five months prior to July 2021, Ms Burling committed five criminal offences in three separate incidents.

On February 21, Ms Burling assaulted a 54-year-old woman on the street in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast in an unprovoked attack.

The victim was punched repeatedly, pulled by the hair, and kicked in the face on the ground. She suffered bruising and swelling to her face, a broken nose, and a fractured eye socket.

On April 4, Ms Burling was at premises she was legally banned from, and when police officers responded she kicked one of them in the groin as they tried to remove her.

On May 24, Ms Burling would not leave licensed premises and assaulted a hotel employee in the process of being ejected.

Ms Burling later pleaded guilty to five offences – assault occasioning bodily harm of the 54-year-old woman, serious assault of a police officer, assault of the hotel employee, wilful damage at the hotel, and failing to leave licensed premises.

She was sentenced to a 17 months’ imprisonment, but released immediately on parole.

It should be noted that none of the incidents occurred in a professional setting or in the course of Ms Burling’s employment as an enrolled nurse.

In the QCAT proceedings, the national Nursing and Midwifery Board alleged Ms Burling failed to notify them of criminal charges punishable by a year or more in prison, which she was required to do. Four of the five offences she was convicted of met this criteria.

The Board alleged Ms Burling had committed professional misconduct as a result.

Ms Burling wrote to the Tribunal advising that she did not wish to participate in the proceedings and was content for the matter to go ahead without her involvement.

QCAT Judicial Member Peter Murphy, who oversaw the hearing on May 9 this year, noted a series of “important health and personal issues” related to Ms Burling.

“They include, for example, her plain, and it seems obvious, ongoing profound distress resulting from the suicide of her long-term partner, who is also the father of the children,” Mr Murphy said, according to QCAT documents.

“It seems to be accepted that this horrific event was also the catalyst for what has been a severe alcohol abuse problem, and that alcohol abuse has plainly played a role in the criminal conduct of which Ms Burling has been convicted.

“Further to those matters is the also important consideration that Ms Burling has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and suffering from a borderline personality disorder.”

The QCAT hearing also heard Ms Burling had other previous criminal convictions committed after her registration had lapsed, including unlawful possession of a knife.

In his decision, published in full this week, Mr Murphy found Ms Burling had committed professional misconduct and he disqualified her from applying for registration as a health practitioner for three years.

“It should be emphasised that this act of violence and, indeed, the acts of violence perpetrated on the police officer and the hotel employee, were all unprovoked. It seems clear that Ms Burling was the instigator of violence on each occasion,” Mr Murphy said in his judgment.

“The evidence is indicative of a troubled woman who has significant psychological issues which have effectively been the cause of her offending behaviour and which would need to be addressed prior to any application for further registration as a nurse.

“The horror of a partner’s suicide and the psychological ramifications against what seem to be serious underlying psychological issues suggest that a lengthy period of time should be allowed for Ms Burling to pursue appropriate and extensive assistance.”