Ireland Case No. 0642Sexual assault · Co. Westmeath
Healthcare worker on trial for sexual assault in Mullingar
A healthcare assistant in his 50s is accused of washing the breasts and bare backside of a 17-year-old girl at a midlands medical facility in 2024 after she was admitted following an overdose. The girl told her mother the next morning, and the man was arrested a week later. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault. His trial is ongoing at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Cephas Power and a jury, with 14 prosecution witnesses.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court7 Jul
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A healthcare assistant in his 50s is accused of pulling over a curtain and washing the breasts and bare backside of a 17-year-old girl by hand while another patient was in the room.
- The girl had been admitted following an overdose of tablets and was moved to a room to be monitored for symptoms before discharge.
- The accused put his contact number into the complainant's phone and told her they could go for Chinese food when she was discharged.
- The complainant told her mother the following morning and the incident was reported to more senior staff that day.
- The accused maintained he only washed her face, arms, and armpits, and said he had not been informed the girl was an independent patient.
- When
- The alleged incident took place on a date in 2024 at a medical facility in the midlands.
- Investigation
- The man was arrested a week later and questioned by gardaí.
- A scene-of-crimes officer photographed the room and a staff director confirmed no alterations had been made to the area between the incident and the photographs.
- Charges
- The man is charged with two counts of sexual assault and has pleaded not guilty.
- In court
- The trial commenced before Judge Cephas Power and a jury of five women and seven men at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, with 14 prosecution witnesses.
- Other details
- The defence says there was a communication breakdown.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe accused is a man in his 50s who cannot be identified for legal reasons. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant was 17 at the time of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant had been admitted to the facility following an overdose. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant was moved to a room to be monitored for symptoms before discharge. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused worked at the facility as a healthcare assistant. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused pulled over the curtain and informed the girl he would wash her, then washed her breasts and bare backside by hand. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAnother patient was in the same room at the time. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe complainant had no parent or guardian present at the time. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl informed her mother the following morning and it was then reported to staff. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl suffered from depression and had needed treatment following an overdose of tablets (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused put his contact number into the complainant's phone (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused told the complainant they could go for Chinese food when she got out (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe other patient testified the accused's hands moved from her shoulder to her breast area and he touched her stomach (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defence says there was a communication breakdown (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused maintains he only washed her face, arms, and armpits (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred at a medical facility in the midlands. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged incident took place on a date in 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man was arrested a week later and questioned by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDuring his interview, the accused stated he had not been informed that the girl was considered an independent patient. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe accused told gardaí he had asked the teenager if she required assistance and she indicated she did. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe accused maintained he only washed her face, arms, and armpits, but not her breasts or backside. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA scene-of-crimes officer photographed the room earlier this year, including the bed, privacy curtains, and surrounding railings. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe complainant's mother reported the incident to more senior staff that day (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man has pleaded not guilty. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man is accused of two counts of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting the then 17-year-old girl (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial commenced before Judge Cephas Power and a jury at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere are 14 prosecution witnesses. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Judge Cephas Power at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court with a jury of five women and seven men (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Jul2026Healthcare worker (50s) put number in girl’s phone after alleged sexual assault, court hears
Day two of the trial with the complainant, a fellow patient, and the complainant's mother giving evidence. The accused pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault.
accused, 50s, malevictim, 17, female - 7 Jul2026Healthcare worker stands trial accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl
Covers the opening of the trial on day one, including the prosecution's opening statement, the accused's account given to gardaí, and initial evidence from a scene-of-crimes officer and a staff director confirming no alterations to the room.
accused, 50s, malevictim, 17, female