Healthcare worker accused of sexually assaulting female patients

A healthcare worker has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and a woman after he allegedly "took advantage of his position" at a midlands medical facility.

The man, who is in his 30s and cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to sexual assaults of two patients on separate dates in 2022.

His trial has commenced before Judge Keenan Johnson and a Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court jury.

READ MORE - 'You know what you did' - Man jailed for 14 years for relentless sexual abuse of his two sisters

READ MORE - 'I'm sick for what I did' - Man who sexually assaulted his partner's granddaughter is jailed for one year

In his opening speech, Cathal Ó Braonáin BL said one complainant, then aged 15, attended the facility with a case of mastitis and was in the waiting area.

It would be alleged the accused, who worked there but was not a doctor, called her and led her to a room and told her to lie down.

The jury heard that they would listen to evidence that she was asked to lift her top, which she did "on the mistaken belief he was a doctor and had cause to examine her".

The prosecutor said it would be alleged the man touched her breasts with his hands and, after carrying out another task, asked her to lift her top once more and touched her breasts again "this time with his gloves off".

The court was told the jury would hear evidence about the circumstances of his employment, the nature of his role, and that he had no business carrying out examinations of patients.

Counsel said that while the evidence was that she did not resist, the prosecution’s case was that there was no consent to this touching which was allegedly on the mistaken understanding that he was a doctor with a medical purpose.

The second complainant alleges that about three weeks before that, she went there after suffering stomach pains. The prosecution’s case is that after she lay down, the accused engaged her in a conversation which she thought to be flirtatious and that he touched her vagina outside her clothing.

Mr Ó Braonáin told jurors that the essence of the case against the man would be that he took advantage of his position to sexually assault the two complainants within three weeks of each other.

The trial continues and is expected to run into next week.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.