A nurse who worked at care home, has pleaded guilty to ill-treating an elderly patient last year in Limavady, Co Derry.
Susanna Simber, of Ballykelly Road in Limavady Derry and originally from the Philippines, has appeared in Derry Magistrates’ Court charged with ill-treating a female patient and assaulting the same patient aged in her 80s at the Rush Hall Care Home.
Although at the beginning of the trial on yesterday, barrister for the defence Ms Nicola Rountree told District Judge Barney McElholm that following discussions with the Public Prosecution Service, one charge was being admitted and the second charge withdrawn.
The 59-year-old Philippineo woman pleaded guilty to a charge that on 30 May, 2013, while employed at the nursing home, she mistreated a female patient in her 80s who at the time was receiving treatment for a mental disorder.
A second charge which was brought against the defendant, has since been subsequently suspended by her employer since May of last year, that she assaulted the same elderly patient was withdrawn.
Ms Rountree told the court that witnesses from England who were due to travel over to Derry to give evidence on Thursday, were now no longer required.
The 59 year old defendant, who has no previous criminal convictions, was released on continuing bail until sentencing on 1 October. As part of her bail conditions, the judge ordered that Mrs Simber is to continue to reside at her home address.