A nurse who has been under investigation since she was suspended from Naas General Hospital last year was yesterday charged with recklessly administering a substance to patients which she knew to be capable of interfering with their bodily functions.
Ms Noreen Mulholland of Runabeg Close, Kildare Town, was also charged with two counts of assault on patients, causing them harm.
The 33-year-old appeared before Naas District Court shortly after 11 a.m. She arrived flanked by a number of gardaí.
Insp Pat Mangan told the court he arrested her at 10.05 a.m. at Kilcullen Road, Naas, and conveyed her to Naas Garda station. There he put four charges to her. They were:
that she did intentionally or recklessly administer to Mr John Gethings a substance which she knew to be capable of interfering substantially with his bodily functions at Naas Hospital on March 1st, 2003, contrary to Section 12 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act;
that she did assault Mr John Gethings causing him harm at Naas Hospital on March 1st, 2003, contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act;
that she did intentionally or recklessly administer to Mr Seamus Doherty a substance which she knew to be capable of interfering substantially with his bodily functions at Naas Hospital between June 18th and June 19th, 2003;
that she did assault Mr Seamus Doherty causing him harm at Naas Hospital between June 18th and June 19th, 2003.
Mr Gethings died at Naas Hospital on March 1st last year. Mr Doherty survived.
Insp Mangan said when each of the charges was put to the accused, she replied "not guilty".
He said the DPP had asked for a trial on indictment. He asked Judge Murrough Connellan to put the case back for a number of weeks.
He also said the defendant was now residing outside the State. She lived in Northern Ireland and he asked the judge to order that she sign on regularly at her local police station.
Mr Robert Eagar, solicitor for Ms Mulholland, said he had no objection, suggesting she could sign on every Monday and Friday at Portadown police station. He also said the Gardaí were seeking to retain Ms Mulholland's passport. He had no objection.
He added that subject to the court's approval he would lodge a cash surety of €4,000 if his client was granted bail.
Mr Eagar also pointed out that his client was not working at the moment and wished to apply for free legal aid.
Ms Mulholland, who was dressed in a black suit and blue open neck shirt, stood for the brief hearing. She only spoke to confirm that she was not working, could not afford to pay a lawyer and wished Mr Eagar to represent her.
Judge Connellan remanded her on bail to July 14th and ordered her to sign on twice weekly at Portadown police station. He accepted the €4,000 cash lodgement as bail.
The court room was packed for the hearing and among those present were members of the late Mr Gethings's family.
The body of Mr Gethings (77) was exhumed from a cemetery in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, last July shortly after gardaí began an investigation. It began following a complaint from the South Western Area Health Board, which runs the hospital. The nurse was suspended from duty at the same time. Ms Mulholland had been employed at Naas hospital through an agency for a period of six months.
Meanwhile the inquest into the death of Mr Gethings, which opened in December, is due for mention at Naas Coroner's Court on June 28th.