NURSING ASSISTANT SENTENCED FOR SHARING VIDEOS OF DEMENTIA PATIENTS

Ciara Corvan, a senior nursing assistant at Craigavon Area Hospital, was sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours community service on Monday for taking and sharing videos of patients with advanced dementia. Corvan, from Cathedral View in Armagh, recorded the footage whilst working at the Bluestone Unit in 2023 and shared videos that included offensive commentary. She pleaded guilty in May to seven charges relating to four victims. Colleagues who received the videos reported her behaviour to authorities.

The court heard that the recordings included a video of a patient in the bath, another of a patient in bed, and a third in which Corvan's face was positioned close to a patient's face. Judge Patrick McGurgan described the offending as a "serious breach of trust" despite its non-physical nature. The judge stated that families placing loved ones in care expect them to be treated with respect and dignity. Police Service of Northern Ireland Det Ch Insp Claire McDonald said Corvan "exploited their vulnerabilities, specifically their lack of capacity and communication for her own entertainment."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed this was the first prosecution in Northern Ireland for ill treatment of patients through degrading photography, videos and commentary. A joint statement from the families said Corvan "sought entertainment in humiliating those who were being tormented every day through the slow and cruel loss of their ability to do even the most basic personal tasks." Police said the sentencing would serve as a deterrent to others in positions of trust with vulnerable people.