A former Irish Prison Service (IPS) psychologist, who allegedly sexually abused a career criminal during therapy sessions, is now working for the HSE. It has come to light that the HSE hired the woman in October 2022 despite being denied a work reference by the IPS. The health service claims they were unaware of the abuse allegations when offering her the position.
The allegations against the psychologist involve the abuse of 58-year-old convicted tiger kidnapper Paschal Kelly during counseling sessions that took place over an 18-month period up to August 2022. The abuse was reportedly discovered when another prison employee witnessed the psychologist and Kelly engaged in a sexual act. Following this revelation, Kelly was transferred from Wheatfield Prison to Cork temporarily, and the psychologist resigned from the IPS in September 2022.
Despite resigning from the prison service, the psychologist was later hired by the HSE. The IPS was contacted by the HSE for an employment reference, but they did not provide one. Correspondence between the principal psychologist for the IPS, Sarah Hume, and Kelly revealed that while the dates of employment were confirmed, no reference was given. Ms. Hume informed Kelly that she could not engage in further discussion due to legal advice received.
In July 2024, Ms. Hume informed Kelly that she had contacted the HSE’s principal specialist psychologist, Caroline O’Connor, about his complaint of alleged sexual abuse and the ongoing Garda investigation. The IPS declined to comment on the matter, stating they do not discuss individual staff members. The HSE also refrained from commenting on the recruitment process for any applicant.
The HSE spokesperson mentioned that they have a thorough recruitment process in place, including reference checks and Garda vetting for all candidates. The case involving the psychologist’s alleged abuse of Kelly is currently the subject of both a civil action and a Garda investigation.
The situation raises concerns about the hiring practices within the HSE and the handling of abuse allegations within the IPS. It highlights the importance of thorough background checks and references when hiring individuals for sensitive positions, especially in healthcare settings where vulnerable individuals may be at risk. The ongoing investigations will hopefully shed light on the truth of the allegations and ensure accountability for any wrongdoing.