Athlone: Health Board, Gardaí 'knew of sex offence'

It has emerged that the Gardaí told the Midland Health Board about allegations of sexual assault involving a department head at Athlone Institute of Technology as far back as June 2004.

The Director of the Centre for Child and Youth Care at AIT, Doctor Niall McElwee, resigned last week after he informed the college he had been convicted of a sex offence in the Netherlands in 2005.

The Institute has said that it was not aware of the incident until last week.

Doctor McElwee, a specialist in childcare and drug and alcohol abuse, travelled to the Netherlands in June 2004 as part of a group organised by the Midland Health Board.

He was arrested after allegations of a sexual assault were made against him.

A garda statement issued this afternoon confirms that a garda sergeant was also on that visit. He was not present when the incident took place and assisted local police in their investigation.

Upon his return to Ireland, a meeting took place between the Gardaí and the Health Board to discuss the events.

Athlone Institute of Technology has said it will re-examine the background checks they conduct on staff.