Gold Coast paramedic punches man in drunken Surfers Paradise assault

A GOLD Coast paramedic who punched a man multiple times to the head during a drunken attack in Surfers Paradise was “embarrassed” as he walked from court.

Paramedic Bradley Gerard O'Neill outside Southport Magistrates Court. Picture: Lea Emery

A GOLD Coast paramedic who punched a man multiple times to the head during a drunken attack in Surfers Paradise was “embarrassed” as he walked from Southport Magistrates Court.

Bradley Gerard O’Neill, 34, narrowly missed spending time behind bars after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm for a shocking Cavill Avenue attack which left a man needing stitches.

Defence lawyer Michael Purcell, of Potts Lawyers, said outside court O’Neill, a Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic who has been assaulted by patients twice, was regretful about what had happened.

“He is very embarrassed by his conduct and is happy it’s over,” he said.

Magistrate Louise Shephard sentenced him to two years probation and 240 hours community service.

She did not record a conviction as doing so would place O’Neill’s job as a paramedic at risk.

“It is in the community’s interest that you be able to continue in that role (as a paramedic),” she said.

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Mr Purcell said O’Neill was suffering from mental health issues which were sparked after he responded to a baby shaking case in July.

A twin baby boy was shaken needing medical attention and the court was told O’Neill was not aware the baby was a twin, and the second child was left in the home.

The court was played CCTV footage of the attack on Cavill Avenue in the early hours of August 22 this year.

The footage showed the victim getting out of a cab and laying face down on the footpath before O’Neill came up to speak to him.

The victim gets up and the pair spoke for a short time before the victim pushed O’Neill, forcing him to take three steps backwards.

O’Neill can be seen to hesitate before unleashing a flurry on punches at the victim, following him as he tried to escape.

The punches left the victim with a cut to the face which required stitches.

The paramedic can be seen leaving.

Mr Purcell said O’Neill had originally approached the victim, saying he was a paramedic and offering him help before suggesting he take a taxi home.

“He replied, ‘(expletive) off, you are not my dad’,” Mr Purcell said.

Mr Purcell told O’Neill came back less than five minutes after the assault and offered to help the man get medical attention.

He said when the offer was declined, O’Neill got into a nearby cab, went to the Surfers Paradise Police Station and handed himself in for the assault.

Mr Purcell said O’Neill suffered post-traumatic stress disorder linked to the two assaults he suffered on the job.

He said his job as a paramedic would be at risk if a conviction was recorded.

O’Neill has been on desk duty since the attack occurred.