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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| City doctor defends court absence | City doctor defends court absence |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A doctor has explained to the BBC that he was unable to give evidence at a court case in Londonderry as he was looking after his baby son. | A doctor has explained to the BBC that he was unable to give evidence at a court case in Londonderry as he was looking after his baby son. |
| District Judge Barney McElholm threatened to have Dr Sandy Nelson arrested after he was absent from the city's courthouse on Monday. | District Judge Barney McElholm threatened to have Dr Sandy Nelson arrested after he was absent from the city's courthouse on Monday. |
| The judge said Dr Nelson and a colleague were "arrogant". | The judge said Dr Nelson and a colleague were "arrogant". |
| Dr Nelson told the BBC he had notified the court he would not be available and understood the hearing was rescheduled. | Dr Nelson told the BBC he had notified the court he would not be available and understood the hearing was rescheduled. |
| He said the assault case, in which he is a witness, was originally listed for the first week in October, when he had specifically stated his unavailability as his first child was due to be born. | He said the assault case, in which he is a witness, was originally listed for the first week in October, when he had specifically stated his unavailability as his first child was due to be born. |
| Late shift | Late shift |
| Dr Nelson said the first he knew of the rescheduled date was when a police officer served him with a summons on 5th December, asking him to be in court on 7th December. | Dr Nelson said the first he knew of the rescheduled date was when a police officer served him with a summons on 5th December, asking him to be in court on 7th December. |
| He said he was working a late shift at Altnagelvin hospital until 1am on the morning of 7th December and was looking after his baby son for the rest of the day. | He said he was working a late shift at Altnagelvin hospital until 1am on the morning of 7th December and was looking after his baby son for the rest of the day. |
| He added that he had telephoned the court to say he would not be available. | He added that he had telephoned the court to say he would not be available. |
| "If this is 'high-handed and arrogant', as Barney McElholm stated, then I can only apologise for spending my weekend treating the people of Derry and trying to be a good father to my child," he said. | |
| The case was adjourned. | The case was adjourned. |
| The BBC has so far been unable to contact his colleague Dr Aref Awa who was also absent from court. | The BBC has so far been unable to contact his colleague Dr Aref Awa who was also absent from court. |