Carer who took 'demeaning' videos of dementia patients sentenced

Families have said their grieving process was made more difficult after a senior nursing assistant took and shared videos of patients with advanced dementia.

Ciara Corvan was sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours community service.

The 28-year-old from Cathedral View in Armagh, was working at the Bluestone Unit of Craigavon Area Hospital in 2023 when she took the videos, which included comments deemed offensive.

Colleagues who received the videos reported the behaviour.

In May of this year Corvan pleaded guilty to seven charges against four victims.

The court heard these included a video of a patient in the bath, another of a patient in bed and another with her nose almost touching one of the patients.

On Monday, Judge Patrick McGurgan said that, although the offending was not physical in nature, it was a "serious breach of trust".

"Each family who placed a love one in care as a last resort expects them to be treated with respect and dignity," he said.

Handing down a sentence of two years probation and 100 hours community service for seven counts of ill treatments of patients under the Mental Health Order (NI) 1986.

"It was demeaning to those you owed a duty of care to. I do not expect you were naive in this matter. The public must have confidence in those who provide care," he said.

Outside the court, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Det Ch Insp Claire McDonald said: "Corvan exploited their vulnerabilities, specifically their lack of capacity and communication for her own entertainment.

"Today her actions are proven criminal, in the first case of its kind for Northern Ireland."

Police said this prosecution was the first of its kind for Northern Ireland, in terms of the ill treatment of patients through degrading photography, videos and commentary.

The PSNI said it is using this sentencing as an example for people in positions of trust with vulnerable people to be deterred from ever taking advantage of someone in their care this way.

A joint statement from families was also read out.

"She (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," the statement said.

"We are saddened by the seemingly lack of morals in this social media generation and hope that this sentencing today makes people stop and think about their conduct online and how they treat people," it said.

"Please stop and think – if that was your mother or father, how would you want them to be treated?"

In a statement, a Southern Trust spokesperson said the organisation was "deeply sorry for the actions of an employee" and fully recognised "the distress this situation caused".

They said patient safety remained the "highest priority" and that all staff were expected "to always uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism".

They added that as soon as this incident came to light, it was reported to their adult protection team for "prompt assessment and action, including engagement with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)".

The trust said it "took immediate steps to remove the staff member from duty as part of the agreed protection arrangements".

"Family members were informed at the earliest opportunity, and the trust has provided ongoing support to families throughout this investigation."