Áras Attracta staff member pleads guilty to assault

Trial of others charged set for early January

A staff member pleaded guilty last week to assualting residents at the Áras Attracta facility in Swinford. Joan Gill, with an address at 35 Dublin Road, Swinford, entered her plea at last week’s Swinford District Court, sitting in Ballina.
Mr Brendan McDonagh, SC, told Judge Mary Devins that Ms Gill, aged 62, was pleading guilty to three of five charges against her on a full facts basis.
Ms Gill, who did not speak during the proceedings, will now be sentenced next year when Judge Mary Devins hears evidence of other cases arising out evidence revealed in an RTÉ Investigations Unit broadcast into care standards at the HSE run facility last December.
Legal representatives for the five other staff members charged with assault have sought trial dates for their clients so Judge Devins set aside a number of days in January, from January 4 to 8, to hear the cases.
They each face a single charge of assault, alleged to have taken place on dates between November 6 and 17 last year.
Two of the accused, Kathleen King from Knockshanvally, Straide, Foxford, and Christina Delaney, from Lissatava, Hollymount, are seeking extra disclosure of documentation that is not in the possession of gardaí.
State solicitor Vincent Deane told the court that the DPP would endeavour to facilitate this.
Pat McLoughlin, of Lalibela, Mayfield, Clarmorris, is charged with assault on November 14, 2014 at Bungalow 3 at Áras Attracta.
Anna Ywunong Botsimbo, of Low Park Avenue, Charlestown, is charged with assault on the same date at the same location, while Joan Walsh from Carrowilkeen, Curry, Co Sligo is charged with assault on November 15 last year.