Alleged sex assault on woman (90s) while in hospital

Man arrested, file sent to DPP

Gardaí are investigating an alleged sexual assault of a woman in her 90s at a hospital in this region, according to a report in the Irish Independent.

The alleged victim in the case suffers from Alzheimer’s and has not been able to provide gardaí with a formal statement.

A suspect was arrested the day after the alleged incident and was later released without charge.

A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the matter.

It's understood that the male suspect was also a patient in the hospital at the time of the alleged offence.

It has emerged that the middle-aged man allegedly got into the elderly lady’s hospital bed.

Another patient on the ward pulled the suspect out of the bed and hospital staff intervened.

It is understood that the suspect claimed he was confused about the woman’s identity.

Sources have described the investigation as “challenging and complex”.

A garda spokeswoman said investigations were ongoing into “a report of a serious assault at” the named hospital about 1am on Wednesday, December 18.

A Health Service Executive spokesperson said: “The hospital places great importance on the safety of patients, visitors and staff, and is fully co-operating with An Garda Síochána’s investigation.

“We are unable to comment further on an ongoing investigation.”