Receivers appointed to two Cork nursing homes in Aperee Living group

Company confirmed receivers have been appointed to Aperee Living in Conna, near Fermoy, and Aperee Living in Bantry

Aperee Living Belgooly in Cork was closed down last November.

Receivers have been appointed to two nursing homes owned by Aperee Living, which was last year reported to gardaí after residents' money was found to have been used to run some of the company’s homes.

Hiqa inspectors found financial irregularities in six of the company’s homes. They also found “significant high risks” in relation to fire safety in a number of homes.

Subsequent to this, Paul Kingston, ​​who runs a consortium of Irish investors, agreed to buy Aperee.

Aperee Living Ballygunner in Waterford had its registration cancelled last September, while the HSE had to effectively run Aperee Living Belgooly in Cork before it too was closed down last November.

News of receivers being appointed to Aperee Living in Conna, near Fermoy, and Aperee Living in Bantry, is another blow to the troubled firm, which operates seven homes and cares for up to 350 nursing home residents around Ireland.

Mr Kingston confirmed receivers had been appointed.

He told the Irish Examiner: “The appointment of receivers was very much unexpected. Our advisers are looking into this currently. The day to day operation of the homes will not be impacted by [this].” 

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was, according to Freedom of Information documents published last year, warned in September 2023 there were doubts about whether Aperee Living could survive.

Officials advised him at a September 5 briefing there was a “very high risk the Aperee Group will cease trading”.

A briefing a few days later warned if the company collapsed, the State would have to have in place some kind of plan to look after the short term needs of the company’s residents.

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Independent Ireland West Cork TD Michael Collins said: “This is a very worrying development for yet another number of nursing homes in this company.

“The uncertainty around its future is not just stressful for residents but also their families and the staff who care for them. There is going to have been some very firm assurances given at all levels now, both from the company and from the HSE and the Government about the future for residents and staff.

“My biggest worry now is whether or not the minister for health has a plan in place, as he was warned last September he would need to have. I do also worry that if the HSE has to come in and run these homes if they have to be wound down, will residents be moved to other homes miles away from their families. This is what happened when the HSE took over Aperee Living Belgooly.”