A nurse at Naas General Hospital has told a jury that she saw her colleague inject an elderly man "very brutally and very roughly" with an unprescribed drug.
Sharon Baxter was giving evidence in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of Noreen Mulholland (35), previously of Runabeg Close, Kildare, now living in Park Road, Portadown, Co Armagh.
Ms Mulholland has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to John Gethings (77), Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, and to intentionally or recklessly administering a substance knowing it could interfere substantially with his bodily functions, and that she did so without his consent on March 1st, 2003.
She also denies assaulting Séamus Doherty (80), Rathcoffey, Naas, Co Kildare, causing him harm and intentionally or recklessly administering a substance knowing it could interfere substantially with his bodily functions, and that she did so without his consent on June 18th-19th, 2003.
Orla Crowe, prosecuting, has told the jury that Mr Gethings died on March 2nd, 2003, but emphasised that it was not the State's case that Ms Mulholland was responsible for his death.
Ms Baxter told Ms Crowe she was working with Ms Mulholland on March 1st and that Mr Gethings was under her care. He was restless and agitated and she heard him call out through the night.
Ms Baxter said Mr Gethings was still restless at 2am. Ms Mulholland went to the treatment room, where medication was stored. "I need to shut him up," she said. "He is waking them all up. I need to give him something."
She got Ms Baxter to check the name, dosage and expiry date on a vial of Serenase, a sedative. Ms Baxter went to reassure Mr Gethings that he was going to get "a little injection" and that he would feel a "pinch", when she heard him "let out a roar".
She looked up to see Ms Mulholland giving him an intra-muscular injection in the buttock "very roughly and very brutally".
The trial continues before Judge Frank O'Donnell and a jury.