HSE apologises for failing to suspend UHL doctor jailed for raping nurse in Limerick

Health service apologises after admitting a delay in suspending the doctor left the victim feeling unsafe at work

Convicted rapist Louay Kila: Nurse said in the aftermath of the assault she was constantly looking over her shoulder — 'hoping that Louay Kila wasn't nearby'.

The HSE has apologised for its “failure” to suspend a UHL doctor which “added to the suffering” of a young nurse, who was raped and sexually assaulted in Limerick.

The HSE has admitted Louay Kila should have been suspended immediately, “in light of the victim impact statement and the evidence heard during this appalling case”.

Kila, 31, a Moroccan national with an address at 61 Cois Luachra, Dooradoyle, was jailed on Friday for eight years for raping and sexually assaulting the young nurse.

Kila raped the woman on March 2, 2024, and was arrested on March 26, 2024. He was charged with sexual assault in March 2024 and with rape in October 2024. He was then suspended from the register of medical practitioners in March 2025.

A spokesperson for HSE Mid-West told the Irish Examiner: “Dr Kila should have been suspended from clinical practice when we became aware of the assault. The evidence of the victim in this case was clear that our failure to do so added to her suffering.

“We are sorry for the additional hurt this caused the victim. Our failure to promptly take the appropriate action to make the victim feel safe at work does not reflect current practice and policy.” The spokesperson added the HSE is taking the situation “extremely seriously”.

“We are reviewing all of the circumstances to ensure all appropriate supports were made available to the victim,” they said.

They said a range of supports are “available to staff who suffer violence or trauma both inside and outside of the workplace”. 

“We can confirm that, in this case, protective measures were put in place for the victim based on her individual requirements following her identification of the assault,” they said.

During her victim impact statement, the woman said that in the aftermath, she was constantly looking over her shoulder — “hoping that Louay Kila wasn't nearby”. She also said she feared for the safety of UHL patients.

She was offered a transfer. “I felt I had no option other than to take this as Louay was still working as a doctor in UHL.” 

 She has since been diagnosed with PTSD and put on antidepressants.

“The night I was raped and sexually assaulted by Louay Kila did not end there. It was the beginning of a daily struggle that I have endured for the last two years,” she said.

Since the assault, I couldn't return to work on that ward as I was physically sick walking into the hospital after the incident. That changed my career. The career I had worked so hard for and had overcome so many obstacles to complete.

On the night in question, the victim had worked a 13-hour shift in UHL and made arrangements to go out with her friends. Later she had fallen asleep on the couch and awoke to being raped. Kila then went away and came back and was "persistent" in sexually assaulting her, despite being told to stop.

When she checked her phone afterwards, she found a Snapchat message from the man she was dating, saying “we’re done”, with a photograph of her asleep and of Kila kissing her cheek.

Judge Sean Gillane said it was clear she could not have taken the photograph, which was sent from her own Snapchat account.

The judge described that detail as "significant". He also pointed out that earlier, the accused enquired about the relationship she was in at the time, noting a “degree of animus” between the accused and the “other male”.

The victim received a text from Kila the day after the attack, which read: “I hope you’re doing okay. I’ve been thinking about what happened the other night. I didn’t mean to upset you. Your wellbeing is important to me and I want to make sure you’re okay.” 

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “The Minister for Health and the department condemn all assaults against healthcare workers. Any allegation of sexual assault is extremely serious, completely unacceptable, and should be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities.” 

The spokesperson said it is essential that “appropriate protective actions” are taken in all such cases.

“The Medical Council also has powers to take immediate action, including seeking suspension of a doctor’s registration, where serious concerns arise or where a doctor has been convicted of a serious criminal offence. These powers are used in the most serious cases, including those involving sexual offences,” they added.