The company that provides security services at Mater Dei Hospital has suspended two of its officers after an internal investigation found they had "failed to actively intervene" as a policemen was beaten up by a patient at the Emergency Department earlier this week.

The patient, a homeless former boxer, was taken to court this morning.

The company, G4S, said the two security officers have been temporarily suspended from work and permanently stopped from working at Mater Dei Hospital.

While expressing solidarity with the police officer involved, the firm said its staff undergo rigorous training for them to be always in line with the procedures that have to be abided to in such circumstances.

This morning, the alleged aggressor, Sean Sinclair Pace, 36 was sent to a psychiatric hospital after he pleaded not guilty to having assaulted the policeman and having attempted to stab him with a syringe.

Mr Pace, who appeared before Magistrate Neville Camilleri, was also accused of threatening the policeman, slightly injuring him, disobeying police orders and swearing in public.

Inspector Jason Sultana told the court that on the day of the incident, Mr Pace had been referred to Mount Carmel Hospital from the Cospicua health centre.

But, upon arrival at Mt Carmel he was unresponsive and was therefore rushed to Mater Dei Hospital. A heroin antidote was administered because doctors suspected a heroin overdose.

When he recovered, he refused to be tested and also refused to be returned to Mount Carmel Hospital and repeatedly punched the policemanwho intervened to calm the situation.

A number of hospital staff including nurses, doctors and ambulance drivers attempted to restrain Mr Pace but he still managed to get hold of a syringe, which was uncovered, and tried to stab the policeman in the neck. He was locked in a room until police officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit got to hospital.

Two hospital security guards who were present during the assault admitted with the police that had seen the assault but did not assist the policeman because they are not allowed to touch anyone.

Defence lawyer Joe Brincat said his client was pleading not guilty but did not request bail, saying his client’s health was the priority. He requested that Mr Pace be sent to the forensic unit at Mount Carmel Hospital to receive the treatment he required.

Magistrate Camilleri upheld the request.

On Wednesday the Police Association strongly criticised the security officers for not helping the policeman and wondered what their real duties were.