Former HSE employee charged with €170k theft in Cork

on 15/01/2013 12:57:29

A former HSE employee was today charged with the theft and attempted theft of more than €170,000 from the HSE and some of its suppliers.

David Cooper, aged 52, appeared before Cork District Court where he was charged with a total of 12 charges relating to his time as an employee at St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital in Cork.

Mr Cooper with an address at Southern Road, Cork, has since resigned from the HSE and is on disability allowance.

The charges relate to a period between June and July of last year.

Documents and computers were seized at the hospital on July 6 by gardaí investigating the allegations. The probe was launched after an allegation made by the HSE.

He has been remanded on bail to appear in court again on February 5.

The court was told Mr Cooper was seeking a restriction on publicity around the case, but Judge O'Leary refused to impose a ban saying there was a constitutional provision allowing such matters to be heard in public and reported.