Nurse not guilty of sex with patient

A male psychiatric nurse was found not guilty of misconduct and having a sexual relationship with a woman patient he was treating.

Patrick Totton, 48, from Downpatrick, was cleared after a hearing of the professional conduct committee of the Nurses and Midwifery Council in Belfast.

Mr Totton wept and hugged his wife after the committee announced its decision. He refused to comment afterwards.

His lawyer, John O’Hara QC, said his client was “overcome after the stress of living under the accusation for a year”.

Susanne Dunne, 36, made a formal complaint last year that he had sexual intercourse with her in 1995 during a consultation in her home.