Assistants tell inquiry nurse regularly slept on the job

Three care assistants at an elderly home yesterday told a disciplinary inquiry that a nurse with whom they worked would regularly sleep on the job.

One of the care assistants said she did not raise the alarm about this behaviour because she was afraid of the nurse, while another told the Nursing Board inquiry of threats from the nurse.

It is claimed Eileen Mary Mulligan Kiernan, while working night shifts at the Maple Court Nursing Home in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, would routinely sleep for one to three hours between 2am and 5am.

As a result of these alleged resting periods, Ms Mulligan Kiernan allegedly failed to provide adequate care to the 21 elderly residents, the majority of whom were at least 80 years of age.

The alleged failures took place between March 2011 and December 2012. Ms Mulligan Kiernan worked at the Maple Court home from October 2002 to July 2013.

It is claimed these allegations amount to professional misconduct and poor professional performance.

Ms Mulligan Kiernan denies the allegations. In a written response regarding the complaint, Ms Mulligan Kiernan said she loved her job and was a caring person the residents loved.

“By no stretch of the imagination are these allegations true,” she said.

The inquiry is due to continue later this month.