Nurse accused of stealing €50,000 from elderly patient

Maeve Bell (37), Hackballscross, accused of stealing sums from woman at Highfield Healthcare

Maeve Bell (37), Shanmullagh, Hackballscross, Dundalk, Co Louth, is accused of stealing various sums from a named female at Highfield Healthcare on the Swords Road, Dublin 9. File photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

A former clinical nurse manager at a Dublin nursing home has been sent forward for trial accused of stealing €50,000 from an elderly patient over a two-year period.

Maeve Bell (37), with an address at Shanmullagh, Hackballscross, Dundalk, Co Louth, appeared at Dublin District Court, where she was served with a book of evidence.

She is accused of stealing various sums from a named female at Highfield Healthcare, which provides specialist care to the elderly, and is located on the Swords Road in Dublin 9.

The 75 charges are under the Theft and Fraud Act - the offences are alleged to have taken place on dates in 2013 and 2014.

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Det John Griffin from Santry Garda station said the DPP directed that Ms Bell must face trial on indictment.

Judge John Cheatle warned the woman that if she intended to rely on an alibi she must inform the prosecution within 14 days.

He said she was being returned for trial and will face her next hearing on April 8th at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

No bail objection

She has not yet entered a plea to the charges and there was no objection to bail.

She has agreed to abide by conditions sought by gardaí.

She has surrendered her passport and cannot apply for new travel documents, and she must sign on twice a week at Dundalk Garda station and notify Det Garda Griffin of any change of address.

The court ordered her to have no contact with staff at Highfield Healthcare and to have no contact with employees and patients at a connected facility, the Elmhurst Nursing Home, at Hampstead Avenue in Dublin 9.

Legal aid has been granted.

At her previous hearing in January, a statement of her means was furnished to the District Court, which heard she was unemployed.