A dramatic trial has unfolded at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, where a male healthcare assistant in his 50s stands accused of two counts of sexual assault against a highly vulnerable 17-year-old girl who was recovering from a drug overdose at a midlands medical facility.

The prosecution alleges that the accused took advantage of a strict privacy curtain inside a shared ward to unclasp the teenager’s bra and wash her breasts and bare backside by hand. The state maintains that the victim was classified as an “independent patient,” requiring absolutely no physical assistance with hygiene or dressing, and was completely alone without a parent or guardian present.

Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court: Details of the Alleged Midlands Assault

The trial, presiding under Judge Cephas Power and an impaneled jury of five women and seven men, commenced on Tuesday following the accused’s formal plea of not guilty. Opening the state’s case, prosecuting counsel Cathal Ó Braonáin BL detailed the disturbing timeline of events dating back to a specific night in 2024.

The complainant had been admitted to the unnamed Midlands psychiatric or medical facility following an acute overdose of tablets brought on by severe anxiety and depression. After initial emergency treatment, she was transferred to a monitoring room to be observed for residual clinical symptoms before her scheduled discharge.

It was during this period of recovery that the accused, working as a healthcare assistant, allegedly approached her bed. Counsel stated that the man abruptly pulled the privacy curtains shut—isolating the teen despite the physical presence of an older female patient in the very same room.

“The prosecution’s case is that the teenager was entirely independent, meaning she did not require any staff assistance with washing or dressing,” Mr. Ó Braonáin BL informed the jury.

Chilling Testimony: Phone Numbers and Post-Incident Trauma

Giving evidence on day two of the trial, the young woman recounted the harrowing encounter. She testified that she felt incredibly vulnerable while scrolling through her phone. According to her testimony, the healthcare worker unbuttoned her top and bypassed her physical resistance to unclasp her bra, before washing her intimate areas in a circular motion.

In a deeply unsettling turn, the complainant further alleged that after dressing her in leggings—but intentionally leaving off her fresh underwear—the man massaged her back and pressured her for her contact information. He then allegedly inputted his own phone number directly into her smartphone.

The jury also heard explosive evidence from the other patient in the ward. The witness described the healthcare assistant’s initial behavior as “over the top” and “dancing.” She testified that after pulling back the curtains, the teenager’s demeanor completely changed into a state of severe agitation—marching, stamping her feet, and jumping on the bed in distress.

Defense Claims ‘Communication Breakdown’ and Denies Contact

Following the alleged assault, the teenager informed her mother the next morning, prompting an immediate investigation by senior medical staff and senior detectives. The accused was arrested one week later and subjected to rigorous Garda interviews.

The defense team has countered the prosecution’s narrative, asserting that a critical internal “communication breakdown” occurred. The accused informed investigators that he was never briefed on the girl’s status as an independent patient. He maintains that he asked the teenager if she required hygiene assistance and claims she indicated she did.

Crucially, the accused explicitly denies the sexual components of the indictment, maintaining to Gardaí that he strictly washed only the complainant’s face, arms, and armpits—vehemently denying any contact with her breasts or backside.

14 Prosecution Witnesses as Trial Continues

The state has lined up a total of 14 prosecution witnesses to solidify its case. Early evidence has already been delivered by a Scene-of-Crimes Officer (garda forensic photographer) who mapped out the room earlier this year, capturing detailed images of the bed structure, privacy curtains, and surrounding safety railings.

A staff director from the midlands facility confirmed under oath that the physical layout and structural properties of the ward had remained entirely unaltered between the date of the alleged incident in 2024 and the execution of the forensic photography.

The high-profile trial continues to hear essential testimonies from the complainant, her mother, treating medical personnel, and investigating Gardaí.