GUILTY Nurse manager Pat McLaughlin, pictured at a previous sitting of the District Court, has been sentenced to jail. Pic: Keith Heneghan/Phocus





Prison term for highest-ranking staff member

Five Áras Attracta staff members charged with assault were sentenced at a sitting of the District Court in Ballina today.

The charges arose from a Garda investigation following the Prime Time undercover documentary 'Bungalow Three', filmed at the Áras Attracta care home in Swinford.

Pat McLoughlin (56) of Lalibela, Mayfield, Claremorris, a nurse manager at Áras Attracta, has been found guilty of assault of an Áras Attracta resident that took place on November 14. He been sentenced to four months in prison.

Three other staff members – Christina Delaney (35) of Secfinn, Lissatava, Hollymount;Joan Walsh (42) of Carrowilkeen, Curry, Co Sligo and Kathleen King (56) of Knockshanvally, Straide, Foxford – have been found guilty of assault that occurred at the care facility on November 15. They are to be assessed for community service in lieu of prison sentences.

Joan Gill (62) of 35 Dublin Road, Swinford, faced a total of five charges of assault alleged to have taken place in Bungalow Three on three dates between November 6 and November 17. Ms Gill pleaded guilty to three of the five charges. She is to be assessed for community service in lieu of a prison sentence for those charges.

A full report will be carried in tomorrow’s Mayo News.