Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20493Theft and forgery of a medical prescription (professional misconduct) · Co. Dublin · 3 May 2017

Nurse found guilty of professional misconduct over theft of prescription forms and medicines

A psychiatric nurse, a man who cannot be named and whose age and nationality are not given, stole prescription forms, inhalers and sleeping tablets from Clonmethan Lodge in Oldtown, Co Dublin, on 3 May 2017, and also presented a forged prescription at Hickey's Pharmacy on Henry Street, Dublin, that day. In February 2020 he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forgery of a medical prescription and four counts of theft, received a nine-month suspended prison sentence, and resigned from the centre that month. On 30 June 2023 the NMBI fitness-to-practise committee found six allegations proven and ruled that he had breached the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, and a report with recommended sanctions will be presented to the NMBI in due course.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A psychiatric nurse stole prescription forms, inhalers and sleeping tablets from the care centre where he worked.
  • The nurse presented a forged prescription at Hickey's Pharmacy on Henry Street, Dublin, on 3 May 2017.
Where
The thefts took place at Clonmethan Lodge in Oldtown, Co Dublin, a residential facility for people with intellectual disability and mental health problems run by St Joseph's Intellectual Disability Service.
When
The unauthorised taking of prescription forms and medicines occurred on 3 May 2017.
Cause
The nurse said his actions were linked to an addiction to hypnotic drugs that developed after he was violently assaulted by a resident in November 2015.
Investigation
  • He admitted taking approximately 20 prescription forms and various sleeping tablets without authorisation, and the NMBI's findings were based on those admissions.
  • An inquiry by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland found six allegations proven, and the fitness-to-practise committee ruled he breached the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.
  • The fitness-to-practise committee rejected the NMBI's claim that his hypnotic use disorder might impair his ability to practise nursing.
Charges
The nurse was charged with forgery of a medical prescription and four counts of theft.
In court
In February 2020 he pleaded guilty to these charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sentence
He received a nine-month suspended prison sentence for the court charges.
Other details
  • He resigned from Clonmethan Lodge in February 2020, before a disciplinary process concluded.
  • A report with recommended sanctions will be presented to the NMBI in due course.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA psychiatric nurse stole prescription forms, inhalers and sleeping tablets from the care centre where he worked. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe nurse also presented a forged prescription at Hickey’s Pharmacy on Henry Street, Dublin, on 3 May 2017. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe thefts took place at Clonmethan Lodge in Oldtown, Co Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe unauthorised taking of prescription forms and medicines occurred on 3 May 2017. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe nurse said his actions were linked to an addiction to hypnotic drugs that developed after he was violently assaulted by a resident in November 2015. (rte.ie)
  • investigationAn inquiry by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland found six allegations proven. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe nurse pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February 2020 to forgery of a medical prescription and four counts of theft. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceHe received a nine-month suspended prison sentence for the court charges. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe nurse resigned from Clonmethan Lodge in February 2020 before a disciplinary process concluded. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe fitness to practise committee rejected the NMBI's claim that his hypnotic use disorder might impair his ability to practise nursing. (rte.ie)
  • otherA report with recommended sanctions will be presented to the NMBI in due course. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jun2023
    Otherrte.ie, first report
    Nurse who stole found guilty of professional misconduct

    Reports the NMBI fitness-to-practise finding of six proven allegations against the nurse, the 2020 court plea and suspended sentence, his resignation, and that a sanctions report is to follow.

    convicted, male