News

Nurse carjacked after leaving work – appeal for witnesses

Did you see the ‘traumatic’ incident that took place near the Mater Hospital in Belfast?

Did you see ‘traumatic’ incident that took place near Mater Hospital in Belfast?

The carjacking took place near the Mater Hospital in Belfast. Picture: Alamy

A nurse was left shaken but unhurt after being carjacked when she had just finished a night shift.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack, which took place just before 8am on Saturday 31 July, shortly after the nurse had left work at the Mater Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Police give details of the incident

Officers investigating the incident said the nurse was approached by a man while in her car, which was parked on Crumlin Road near the hospital.

The man, whom the police said was wearing ‘a grey hooded top and grey bottoms’, opened the door of the nurse’s red Mini Cooper and ordered the nurse out before driving off.

‘The woman, while physically uninjured, has understandably been left shaken,’ said detective sergeant Wilson of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Call for potential witnesses

A spokesperson for Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which runs the hospital, said: ‘The safety of our staff is paramount and these kind of attacks are totally unacceptable.

‘We would urge the local community to join us in condemning this behaviour and report any information they may have to the police.’

RCN stresses urgent need for safe car parking

Acting director of RCN Northern Ireland Rita Devlin said it was vital that nurses and other healthcare workers felt safe travelling to and from work.

‘This was an extremely traumatic incident for the nurse, who no doubt had just come off a busy shift and was looking forward to getting home,’ she said.

‘Staff car parking can sometimes be an issue and we have been engaging with employers to reinforce their responsibility to provide safe car parking to all those who require it.’


In other news

Jobs