A CAREWORKER punched, slapped and verbally abused up to seven pensioners, Warrington Crown Court was told.
Kerry Murphy, 27, from Runcorn, faced seven charges of ill-treatment and wilful neglect of elderly residents at the care home she worked for.
The court heard the offences took place at St Luke’s Nursing Home, Palacefields Avenue.
The alleged victims, aged between 70 and 93, suffered from dementia and were unable to communicate what was happening to them, the court was told.
All relied heavily on the help of support workers, as they were incapable of looking after themselves.
The charges relate to breaches of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Cross examined yesterday (Wednesday) Murphy denied causing physical or verbal abuse.
She said she couldn’t account for the accusations and didn’t understand why the other carers would bring it up now.
“No elderly residents should be subjected to that kind of abuse – I have never hit anyone at St Luke’s,” she said.
The incidents, alleged to have taken place between September, 2007, and October, 2009, were described in graphic detail by former colleagues of Murphy.
They told the court they witnessed her slap, punch and verbally abuse residents.
Murphy was suspended from her position in October last year after three colleagues filed formal complaints.
But defence lawyer Nicholas Walker suggested the witnesses conspired to get Murphy into trouble because of a grudge.
He said: “If the incidents occurred as you have described, then it was your duty as care workers to report any such incidents immediately.
“But it took more than two years from the original claimed incident for a formal complaint to be made and with no physical signs of abuse found on the alleged victims. I put it to you that these incidents did not take place.”
The complainants individually responded that they were intimidated by Murphy, who they described as ‘loud, offensive and rude’.
The court was told an anonymous written complaint was left for St Luke’s former service manager Sandra Watkins to find.
It read: “Kerry Murphy is kicking, slapping and punching residents. Please help, this needs to stop.”
Following an internal investigation, the three put their name to the letter and produced full statements. Murphy was suspended the following day, and the statements were passed to Halton Borough Council and the police.
Murphy was arrested and charged in January.
Prosecutor Meirion Lewis Jones told the court: “We expect a lot from care workers in this country, but in this case the defendant has fallen dreadfully below these standards.”
Murphy denies the accusations.
The case continues.
SOURCE: RUNCORN and WIDNES DAILY NEWS, UK
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