Nurse appeals jail sentence for Áras Attracta assault

Edwin McGreal
Castlebar

A male nurse who was sentenced to four months in prison for the assault of a resident of the Áras Attracta care facility in Swinford is appealing the sentence.
Pat McLoughlin (57) of Lalibela, Mayfield, Claremorris was the most senior member of staff charged with assault at Áras Attracta following undercover footage recorded by RTÉ's Prime Time Investigates programme.
He was a clinical nurse manager at the care facility and was one of six members of staff at the facility prosecuted on charges of assault of residents at the centre for people with physical and mental disabilities.
At today's sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court his solicitor Gearóid Geraghty told Judge Rory McCabe that Mr McLoughlin is appealing the sentence on grounds of 'severity only'. He is, therefore, not contesting the guilty finding registered against him.
The matter has been adjourned to June 28 next where the appeal will be heard.
At the District Court hearing last January the court was told that the victim of McLoughlin's assault has a severe intellectual disability and severe autism and is non-verbal.
The court was shown footage of Mr McLoughlin running towards a chair at the same time as a resident in Bungalow Three of Áras Attracta and then sitting down on top of her.
In February Judge Mary Devins found McLoughlin guilty and sentenced him to four months in prison. He is the only staff member at Áras Attracta to receive a jail term for the assaults captured by RTÉ's undercover cameras.
Judge Devins said Mr McLoughlin's seniority and his role as an exemplar were aggravating factors in his case.