Worker stole cash from nurses at West Cork hospital to feed his drug habit

A Cork man who worked in the stores at Bantry General Hospital stole cash from the handbags of nurses to feed his cocaine habit, a recent sitting of Bantry District Court has heard.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told the court thefts had been reported to gardaí from a storeroom in the high-dependency unit at Bantry General Hospital in December 2025. Money had been taken from handbags left in a store room staff used to keep their personal possessions while they were working.

On December 8, 2025, €100 in cash was taken from the handbag of a nurse working on the unit. 

On December 9, €20 in cash was taken from a handbag belonging to the same nurse. 

On December 18, €4 was taken from the handbag of another nurse.

The personal effects were kept in a room that could only be accessed using a staff swipe card and following analysis of data on who had accessed the room when the money went missing, Sam Nallen, aged 21, of Pairc na Carriage, Newtown, Bantry, Co Cork, who worked in stores at the hospital, was identified as a suspect.

Nallen was questioned about the thefts and made full admissions. The court was told Nallen was 20 years old at the time, and had no previous convictions. 

Flor Murphy, defending, said Nallen had developed a cocaine addiction and resorted to stealing to feed his habit. Mr Murphy said Nallen had lost his job as a result of thefts and was in the process of accessing addiction treatment services. 

Mr Murphy said: “He’s all over the shop and needs to address the addiction.” 

Judge Joanne Carroll noted Nallen seemed to be making efforts to address his problem, had lost his job, and had no previous convictions. She remanded him on continuing bail to appear again on July 23. 

She said: “If he wants mitigation, he will have to get off drugs and we’ll take it from there.” 

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme