Bo Moran: ‘Menace’ sentenced for Wollongong Hospital fracas

An Illawarra man has learnt his fate after causing a scene at Wollongong Hospital which left a seasoned paramedic with a serious injury.

A Mangerton man who was a “nuisance and a menace” inside and outside Wollongong Hospital mid last year has been sentenced for his “utterly reprehensible and inexcusable” behaviour.

Bo Moran, 35, previously pleaded guilty to behaving in an offence manner in a public place and obstructing an ambulance officer providing a service to another person in Wollongong Local Court.

In June, Moran fronted a hearing where more serious charges of obstructing an ambulance officer by an act of violence and reckless grievous bodily harm were overturned.

Moran’s moronic behaviour began around 2pm on June 3, last year when Moran presented to the Wollongong Emergency Department with stomach pains, however, after becoming aggressive he was asked to leave.

Moran returned to his Myuna Wy abode where he called triple-0 with paramedics conveying him the 1km distance back to the hospital.

Nurses tried to treat Moran, but his abusive and aggressive behaviour led to two security guards being called to his bed.

“Give me some morphine c****,” Moran yelled while an eight-year-old child was being treated in the adjacent bed.

He was administered morphine, however, his outburst continued which led to another two security guards surrounding his bed.

Moran started doing push ups, puzzling head nurse, Peter Henderson who asked why he was doing them.

“It f***** makes me feel better... Me guts, f***,” Moran replied.

Mr Henderson offered Moran valium for further relief and told him if he continued to threaten staff he would be told to leave.

“If you give me attitude, I’ll give you attitude,” Moran responded before he was asked to leave, the court heard.

Moran was carried out by a group of security guards while he yelled “Someone videos these c****, I‘ll f****** have you, f***you... I’m going to come back if they have to give me stuff, you can’t stop me”.

Bo Moran had to be forcibly carried out of the Wollongong Hospital ED.

The security guards released him when they got to the end of the driveway and off the hospital grounds, but shortly after, Moran obstructed an ambulance, carrying a 70-year-old man with a serious leg injury, trying to enter the premises.

A paramedic, 57-year-old John Bevan, was in another ambulance and knowing the plight of the man in the other ambulance he attempted to move Moran out of the way.

Mr Bevan attempted to wrap his arms around Moran who ducked and weaved which caused the paramedic of 32 years to slip on the wet bitumen before his knee “popped” and he blacked out.

Mr Bevan sustained fractured proximal tibia (a fractured knee) caused by a “significant twisting injury”.

The veteran paramedic entered the witness box during the hearing earlier this year where he wore a bulky knee brace and requiring the assistance of a walking stick, gave his recollections of the “traumatic event” for the first time.

During the hearing, Magistrate Michael O’Brien described Moran’s conduct on the day as “utterly reprehensible and inexcusable” while also labelling him a ”nuisance and a menace”.

However, Magistrate O’Brien said the prosecution was unable to convince him Moran had acted “recklessly” beyond reasonable doubt.

Bo Moran leaving Wollongong Courthouse on Wednesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“The difficulty I have is what precisely happened at this juncture,” the magistrate said.

“We have three different versions of what the accused did.

“I don’t think I can be satisfied to the requisite standard.”

Magistrate O’Brien dismissed the charge of reckless grievous bodily harm before withdrawing the charge of obstructing an ambulance officer by an act of violence.

The magistrate, along with Mr McKenzie, acknowledged there was “no question” that Mr Bevan‘s conduct was anything other than appropriate.

On Wednesday, Magistrate O’Brien delivered his sentence, hitting Moran with a 12-month community corrections order.

The magistrate also ordered Moran complete 100 hours of community service.