Nurse's registration cancelled after secretly filming child in changing room

High Court Reporter

A nurse who was jailed after secretly filming a child in a leisure centre changing room has had his registration cancelled by the High Court.

In May 2025, Francisco Javier Valverde Mateo (39) was convicted after pleading guilty to offences related to the covert filming, and the possession of 3,999 images and 1,163 videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

At the sitting of Galway Circuit Court, he was jailed for two and a half years, with the final year suspended.

At the High Court this week, lawyers for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) sought to have Valverde Mateo’s registration with the board cancelled.

The NMBI regulates the profession of nursing in Ireland.

High Court president Justice David Barniville said the case relates to an “incredibly serious” criminal offence, involving the creation and distribution of CSAM.

Following an application moved by solicitor Yvanne Kennedy, for NMBI, the judge said he had “no hesitation” in imposing the sanction sought by the board.

Valverde Mateo, formerly of Ashfield Road, Greenfields, Newcastle, Galway, remains in custody, the court heard.

According to NMBI’s court documents, the board considered cancelling Valverde Mateo's registration at a meeting in January.

His registration was initially suspended last June, after the board became aware of his conviction.

The board decided it was appropriate to cancel the registration for various reasons, including its finding that the offences rendered Valverde Mateo permanently unfit to continue practising nursing in the State.

The board also found that the offences committed were “fundamentally incompatible” with the nursing profession, and that allowing Valverde Mateo to continue in the profession would give rise to a “significant” public risk.

Mr Justice Barniville granted the order sought, confirming the decision of the board to cancel Valverde Mateo’s registration.