Louth agency nurse obtained almost €66k by deception

A former agency nurse who obtained almost €66,000 from St. John of God North East Services by double-claiming for the same shifts and submitting timesheets for work she didn’t do, has been jailed for 14 months at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Amanda Kerley of Mullenstown, Ardee pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining money by deception at St Mary's, Drumcar between August 8th 2017 and March 30th 2019.

The defendant was an agency nurse at St John of God North East Services whose HR department had discovered in October 2019 that two agencies were paid for the same shifts worked by the same person in relation to nine timesheets and it was subsequently established that 99 shifts were claimed for, that were not worked.

It was at a total loss of €65,922.04 and €1,400 was handed into court on behalf of the defendant who is on an invalidity pension.

A probation report ordered last October assessed her as being at medium risk of reoffending given her alcohol and tablet misuse and mental health issues.

In finalising the case, Judge Dara Hayes noted the defendant was vulnerable in terms of her health and is lacking support with all but two family members stepping away from her.

He added Ms Kerley didn't accept the full figure involved and was of the view that the loss to the State was 'only' €35,590 when tax and PRSI are factored in, but Judge Hayes said there was no evidence of her having remitted the tax to Revenue and even if she did, the full loss was to St John of God, North East Services, which had an impact on their ability to provide services locally.

Judge Hayes said given the prolonged, deliberate and substantial nature of the offending, the significant breach of trust, and the little effort to make any meaningful restitution over six years, before the matter came to court, it warranted a custodial sentence.

He imposed concurrent sentences of two years and eight months, with the final 18 months suspended to conditions.