Rostrevor carer to be interviewed
Members of the force said they will either fly to Mauritius to interview him or arrange with local police in the Indian Ocean island to do the interview.
The care assistant, who is known here as Kevin, returned to his home country after being suspended following an investigation by the health watchdog.
On foot of allegations by three workers at Rostrevor and an inspection on the home, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) took the rare action last month of seeking a court order to shut down the south Dublin home.
Gardaí have been in phone contact with Kevin and sources said he has been “very forthcoming”.
The whistleblowers gave HIQA details of five alleged assaults by Kevin.
These include claims he banged the head of an elderly male resident off a door jamb and that he kicked the same man on another occasion.
They also claimed he regularly took an elderly female resident to the bathroom where screaming was heard. In another incident, they claimed he slapped a male resident in the face.
Gardaí said only one of the alleged assaults was seen and the rest were heard.
The Irish Examiner understands that gardaí have not found any evidence to corroborate the claims, but said they were “still rooting” and had some people yet to interview.
Officers said Kevin “denied everything” when they put the claims to him over the phone.
He has alleged that the three workers were motivated by vengeance.
Garda sources said Kevin had previously claimed to Therese Lipsett, the owner of Rostrevor, that some members of staff were engaged in fraud, claiming hours for people for work they did not do.
It is understood the staff involved agreed to pay back €15,000 owed and have so far paid €12,000.
While detectives are taking the allegations seriously, they are taking into account the fraud claims.
At the time the fraud claims were made, Ms Lipsett informed gardaí, but declined to make a formal complaint. However, a complaint has now been made and gardaí are also investigating it.
Detectives have been struck by the reaction they have got about Kevin from patients and former patients at Rostrevor as well as the next of kin of patients not capable of being interviewed.
Gardaí said most spoke “very highly” of him and that many specifically asked for him because he was so good with patients.
Gardaí have been assisted by Interpol and have confirmed Kevin’s contact details, including address, in Mauritius.
Gardaí said they had good relations with Mauritian police as a result of the investigation into the murder of Michaela Harte in January.
Some sources said the Rostrevor scandal “could grow tentacles in all directions”.
For its part, HIQA has indicated it is considering prosecuting the owners of Rostrevor for breaches of regulations under the 2007 Health Act.
