A former mortuary assistant moved jars containing foetuses and concealed them in the Coombe Hospital, Dublin, a court was told yesterday. The man had been an employee in the mortuary and had a grievance against his former employer, Kilmainham District Court was told.
Desmond McCabe (38), of Brandon Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1944 and was sentenced to 120 hours' community service, pending a probation report, and ordered to give £1,000 to the charity, AWARE.
Det Insp Michael O'Sullivan gave evidence that McCabe had previously been a mortuary assistant at the hospital and seemed to have a grievance against his former employer. He said that McCabe removed glass jars containing seven foetuses from a shelf in the mortuary and hid them.
Mr Stephen Cousins told the court that he was the parent of one of the foetuses and he and his wife, Martha, had been caused great distress. They were both receiving counselling, he said.
Judge Patrick Brady said that nobody was entitled to act like McCabe had against a former employer, no matter what the grievance. He adjourned the hearing to June 22nd for mention of a community service probation report.