A former HSE social worker who stole and used bank cards from a client’s family member was given a six months prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, at Ballina District Court this week.
At an earlier hearing it was stated that in September 2009, Susan Gibson, Cashel, Carrowmore Lacken, Ballina, took bank cards from the grandmother of one of her clients after a visit to her house, and used the cards to steal €2,000 worth of cash.
A probation report handed in at a previous court sitting outlined that the defendant had a moderate risk of re offending; that she had a breakdown 15 years ago; that she took long periods of sick leave from various employments; and has an addiction to gambling machines. The court heard that Gibson moved to Ireland in 2000 and voluntarily retired from the HSE on April 30. There is now a possibility that she might move to England to be with her sick mother.
At Tuesday’s sitting Gibson also faced tax charges, after she was detected driving on December 2 2009 on the Killala Road. The tax on her car was out of date for three years. Gibson has no previous convictions.
Judge Mary Devins said that she was “concerned” that the HSE employed Gibson even with her background, and what gave her “great cause of concern” is the fact that the defendant worked with vulnerable children.
In relation to the tax charges, Gibson was convicted and fined €500. For one of the theft charges, the defendant was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and for another theft charge Gibson was sentenced to three months in prison to be served consecutively, suspended for 12 months.
