Healthcare worker accused of sexual assault said he called teen girl 'baby'

Tom Tuite

A healthcare worker who denies sexually assaulting a teenage girl while washing her at a Midlands medical facility told gardaí he called her "baby" and said, "I am a blessing, make everyone feel good".

The accused, a man in his 50s who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting the then 17-year-old girl, who suffered from depression and had needed treatment following a tablet overdose.

The trial continued on Friday at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

The jury already heard that the teenager had been assigned as an "independent patient," meaning she did not require assistance with washing or dressing.

She has alleged that she did not ask for assistance, but he removed her clothes, washed her breasts and bare backside, talked about going for a meal, gave her a massage and afterwards put his number in her phone.

Divisional Protective Service Unit Detective Garda Elizabeth Glennon told the trial on Friday that a week later, she interviewed the man, who recalled that the girl and a mature woman were in the room.

Jurors heard that he told Detective Garda Glennon that he had introduced himself that day.

He claimed to the detective that the girl told him she needed help, that he washed her face, arms, and armpits, and that he explained what he was doing as he cleaned her.

The man told gardaí that when he entered, he was like a blessing and told the two patients that they would get better and leave soon.

A doctor arrived shortly after and said the mature woman would be getting out soon. She remarked to him that it was as if he had made a prophecy and that he was a good man; he maintained in his interview.

He said he told the complainant that she too would be leaving soon and that "You are like my daughter too, my baby girl, do what I say, trust God", and she asked him for his number.

He said he showed affection and care and that he showed her a picture of his own daughter.

In his statement read to the jury, he told Detective Garda Glennon that the girl spoke about back pain that she could not sleep, so she allowed him to give her a massage, but it was over her clothes.

However, he accepted that he had overstepped his role in giving her a massage, during which she managed to get a photo of him with her phone.

He told the officer he treated all patients the same, regardless of gender, that he gave them care and assisted them, and that "my job is making them happy".

It was day four of the trial, which has reached its closing stages.

The jury heard he explained that he called her baby because he was a father and was treating her like a baby daughter.

He confirmed he had completed the Children First awareness programme and understood that he had to protect children.

He said he helped the teen put on her clothes later because she wobbled while trying to put on her trousers, and he believed the girl was not lying but had been manipulated by her mother.

The prosecution closed its case on Friday, and the defence indicated that it would not call any witnesses.

Judge Cephas Power notified the jury that the prosecution and defence would deliver their closing speeches on Tuesday.

He added that he would then give them his instructions before they commence deliberating on their verdict.

Earlier, the complainant alleged that after the accused undressed her, washed her breasts and backside, he slowly pulled up her leggings without underwear.

She testified that he was kneeling eye level with her vagina at the time, and was "looking straight in front of him", which he denied.

She alleged he told her later that he wanted a girl, but that she was "unavailable right now."

The complainant thought he meant he liked a girl who already had a partner, but he then added that the girl was in the hospital.

"Then it clicked—I was in the hospital. I asked if it was me, and he put out his hands and made me give him a high five," she said.

A woman in her 60s, who was also in the same room, gave evidence that after the accused was finished with the girl, he came over to wash her, but was "too familiar."

She told the court that his hands moved from her shoulder over to her breast area, and he went to take off her bra and touched her stomach.

"I swung at him," she told the court, adding that she did not make contact with the accused.

She did not see what had happened around the girl's bed because the privacy curtains had been pulled.

The jury heard that the second woman later noticed the girl's demeanour had completely changed afterwards.

The complainant's mother noticed that she was "very shook" and reported it to more senior staff that day.

A staff director told the trial that nurses give instructions to the agency healthcare workers who do not have access to medical notes.

The director said their role was to provide feeding, hydration, and personal care, and that they are informed of the patient's needs.

The defence says there was a communication breakdown.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.