Mark Colin Morrell, 59, fined $1000 for threatening first responders and medical staff at Cairns Hospital

First responders and Cairns Hospital nurses and doctors were abused and threatened with being “lit up like a Christmas tree”, a Cairns court has been told.

Mark Collin Morrell, 59 was fined for abusing and threatening first responders and medical staff at Cairns Hospital who treated him after he was involved in a fight.

A man who abused and threatened first responders and medical professionals who came to his aid after a fight has been fined $1000 in Cairns Magistrates Court.

Mark Colin Morrell, 59, a spray painter of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday to three charges of disorderly conduct on health services land, committing public nuisance and assaulting a police officer over a “protracted” series of threats and abuse in an ambulance and around Cairns Hospital Emergency Department.

Police prosecutor Amanda Maggs said a member of the public called emergency services when they saw Morrell and another person fighting in Spence Street on the afternoon of December 1, 2024.

When police and ambulance services arrived, Morrell swore repeatedly at a female police officer and said he would rip off the officer’s clothes and “f---” her.

He proceeded to swear and shout similar words and threats to nurses, ambulance officers and doctors throughout his treatment in the Cairns Hospital ED, Ms Maggs said.

At one point after he left the ED, Morrell took lighter fluid from his bag while he was outside the hospital and said he would “light you up like a Christmas tree” and shouted at security guards.

“He yelled aggressively and subjected the police officer, doctors and nurses to a barrage of threats and abuse; there was a child in a bed nearby in the Emergency Department at the time,” said Ms Maggs

“It is particularly galling that this occurred while Queensland Ambulance Service officers, medical staff and police were attempting to render assistance.”

The incident ended when Morrell headbutted the window of a taxi that refused to transport him from the hospital, and Morrell was taken to the police station instead.

She said Morrell had a five-page criminal history that included similar nuisance offences.

Man fined $1000 for ‘unacceptable’ threats and abuse directed at hospital staff and police.

Acting Magistrate Jon Ide said it was unacceptable that medical staff trying to help someone should be subjected to the type of behaviour inflicted by Morrell.

“People who work in hospitals, police officers and nursing staff don’t have to put up with the crap you went on with that day,” said Mr Ide while sentencing.

“Can I make it very clear that this is unacceptable.

“You have escaped jail by the skin of your teeth. You are accumulating a number of these offences and you will go to jail if you continue.”

Duty lawyer Kate Brunger said Morrell had been drinking that day and had no memory of what he had done.

She said Morrell was homeless and lived with significant injuries and medical conditions as a result of a serious accident several years ago.

Originally published as Mark Colin Morrell, 59, fined $1000 for threatening first responders and medical staff at Cairns Hospital