Hospital patient was out on bail when he allegedly doused three others in petrol and set one alight – as the minister admits the horror attack could have been worse

A man was out on bail when he allegedly doused three fellow patients in accelerant and set one on fire in one of Sydney’s busiest hospitals, a court has heard.  

Raymond James Dungay, 48, remains under police guard in Prince of Wales Hospital  following Tuesday’s alleged late-night attack.

He was charged with two counts of attempted murder, common assault, and two counts of cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent (attempted).

Dungay did not appear at a bail hearing on Thursday, where no application for release was made on his behalf.

The court heard that he had previously been released on bail to stay at the hospital while facing separate charges in relation to an alleged aggravated break-in and robbery in Redfern.

Bail was formally refused and Dungay will remain in hospital as part of a detention order.

His matter was adjourned and will return to court on December 8.

Police were called to the hospital at Randwick in Sydney’s east about 10.45pm on Tuesday following reports concerning a patient’s welfare.

Dungay allegedly poured petrol disguised in a drink bottle on two men aged 54 and 63, along with a 64-year-old woman in the spinal injury unit.

His cigarette lighter allegedly did not work until he reached Randovan Banic, 54, who suffered serious facial and upper body burns, which are in addition to the existing spinal injury he sustained in the workplace.

Mr Banic was transferred to intensive care, where he remains in a stable condition.

He recalled smelling the petrol allegedly poured on him before the accused patient ‘lit me up’.

‘He’s (allegedly) come towards me, and then all of a sudden … he douses me with petrol,’ he told Nine News.

‘I could just smell petrol all over my hair, my eyebrows, smoke in my eyes, just everything.

‘I’ve just been pumping water into my eyes.’

Mr Banic believes the alleged attack was preventable, claiming that security guard manning the ward that night was asleep at the time.

‘I’m glad it happened to me, and it didn’t happen to the other two because they wouldn’t be here today,’ he said.

‘One million per cent, it could have been prevented. 

‘That shouldn’t happen in a hospital.’

 Mr Banic insists he is in good spirits, despite flashbacks of his ordeal.

The two other patients were treated for minor injuries and remain in a stable condition.  

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has requested an urgent department review into the alleged incident.

‘We’re dealing with a very, very shocking incident that frightened staff, no doubt frightened other patients and has caused chaos in one of Sydney’s busiest hospitals,’ he said.

‘This could have been completely catastrophic, and serious as it was, it could have been a lot, lot worse.’

The minister also wants Dungay discharged from the hospital as soon as he is well enough and transferred to police custody.

Opposition health spokesperson Sarah Mitchell described the alleged incident as ‘beyond unacceptable’.

‘Safety must be a non-negotiable in our public hospitals,’ she said.

It’s the third violent attack at a Sydney hospital this year – and the second at Prince of Wales Hospital, where a man allegedly attacked six other people and broke a nurse’s leg in April.

Days earlier, a woman allegedly attacked a patient with a hammer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

A South Eastern Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said there was no ongoing risk to patients and staff, and that support is being offered to everyone affected.

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