Judge slams ‘shocking evil’ in Ballina case
Edwin McGreal
The HSE have refused to comment after one of their social workers pleaded guilty to stealing a Laser and Visa credit card from the grandmother of a young adult she was working with.
Judge Mary Devins described the act as ‘evil’ when Ballina District Court was told that Susan Gibson withdrew €2,402 from accounts belonging to Mary Moran after she stole the cards from Mrs Moran’s purse while visiting her house to work with her grandson.
Judge Mary Devins was told at Ballina District Court last week that Ms Gibson of Cashel, Carrowmore, Lacken, Ballina was at the home of Mrs Moran to work with Alan Cawley, a grandson of Mrs Moran, who has appeared before Judge Mary Devins on numerous occasions.
“I thought I was unshockable anymore but that evil shocks me, that she (Ms Gibson) was there as a social worker for Alan Cawley, probably one of the most difficult cases I have had before me. As if she (Mrs Moran) hasn’t enough to worry about,” Judge Devins said in court.
Adrian Bourke, solicitor for Ms Gibson, told the court that his client was still employed by the HSE but that he believed they were aware of the pending case. He added that her job would be terminated by the nature of these events and that Ms Gibson knew that.
Detective Garda Pat Ruane told the court that he had arrested Ms Gibson on March 25 and she admitted ‘that’s true’ when five charges of theft were put to her, amounting to €2,402.
Det Ruane went on to say that Ms Gibson had called to the house of Mrs Moran in Ballina on September 19 last and when Mrs Moran was out of the room she stole a Laser and Visa card from her purse.
He explained that Ms Gibson had called to the house in her capacity as a social worker with the HSE and had used the cards to withdraw various sums amounting to €2,402. Compensation had been paid since.
Adrian Bourke told the court that the circumstances are ‘dim’. ‘They’re horrendous’, interjected Judge Devins.
Mr Bourke went onto say that there were unfortunate circumstances as Ms Gibson had been withdrawing the money to go to England where her nephew was sick. He went onto say that his client was single and had run into mortgage debt and credit card debt and had a gambling addiction.
Judge Mary Devins ordered a probation report to give a ‘full picture’ and remanded Ms Gibson on continuing bail until June 8 for the serving of the report.
When contacted by The Mayo News, the HSE issued a written reply stating: ‘the HSE is not prepared to make any comment in relation to staff matters’.
