Healthcare assistant guilty of sex assault on vulnerable teen girl

By Tom Tuite

A healthcare assistant who undressed and washed a vulnerable teenage girl while she recovered from a tablet overdose at a Midlands hospital has been convicted of sexual assault.

Papy Kadima Tshikala (52), Dunamaise View, Portlaoise, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was working at Regional Hospital Mullingar in 2024, where the girl, then 17 and suffering from depression, was admitted.

The father of six had pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault and faced a five-day trial before Judge Cephas Power and a jury of five women and six men at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

However, on Tuesday evening, after deliberating for about two hours and forty minutes, the jury unanimously returned guilty verdicts.

Judge Power remanded Tshikala on continuing bail with strict conditions pending the preparation of reports and a Probation Service assessment.

The case will be listed for mention next week to set a sentencing date.

Prosecuting counsel Cathal Ó Braonáin BL told jury members that the teenager had been assigned as an "independent patient," meaning she did not require assistance with washing or dressing.

In evidence, the young woman told the jury that she had suffered from depression and anxiety, was scrolling through social media, and felt very vulnerable at the time when "Everything seemed to get to me."

About a day and a half after she was admitted for treatment, she was still observed as a result of the overdose attempt. She shared a ward with one other patient, a woman in her 60s.

The victim testified that the accused, then aged 50, entered the room that morning with a "big smile," was very friendly, and said he would look after them.

The trial heard he told her she should have a shower, but she wanted to wait for her mother first.

When Tshikala suggested washing her face instead, she agreed because she thought it might have been dirty.

She detailed how the accused, who was an agency worker at the hospital, pulled the curtains around her bed and had a basin of warm water, tissues, and Johnson's Baby Wash.

After he started washing her face, she said he then unbuttoned her top to get her arms out, but could not because she had blocked him.

She stated that he proceeded to lean over and unclasp her bra. The jury heard he washed her arms, and then started to wash her breasts and pulled them together.

She had no top on when she was told to stand, and Tshikala pulled down her pyjama bottoms, telling her to wash her front while he looked away.

The complainant thought he only pretended to turn away, and she gave her front a quick wipe.

She said he told her she had not done a good job and alleged that he then started washing and cleaning her backside in a circular motion.

Afterwards, she said he put her leggings on her and started to dress her, but did not put on any underwear even though she had a fresh set in her bag.

Camera phone

She recalled how he slowly pulled up her leggings, while kneeling eye level with her vagina, and was "looking straight in front of him".

She told the court that Tshikala put her bra back on her and then started to massage her back, and she managed to get a picture with her phone.

The young woman said that she lay face down on her tummy at the time.

To placate him, she let him put his contact number into her phone, but she intended to block him the minute after he left, jurors heard.

The young woman said the accused then sat on a chair near her bed, sighed, and took out his phone when he got a notification. However, she said he sighed because it was not her texting him, so she sent him a waving-hand emoji on WhatsApp, and he replied "Yes, my baby".

She told the court that she asked him about the woman on his phone's lock screen, and he said it was his sister. Tshikala told her he was not married and did not have any children, the court heard.

The witness said that the accused told her that he wanted a girl, but that she was "unavailable right now."

The complainant said she initially thought he liked a girl who must have had a partner, but he then added that the girl was in the hospital.

"Then it clicked—I was in the hospital. I asked if it was me, and he put out his hands and made me give him a high five," she said, visibly upset.

The young woman also said that he told her that when she got out, they could go for Chinese food.

Another staff member arrived, and the accused mentioned his birthday, and she said that she was 17, and he called her the "baby of the ward".

The older woman in the ward told the trial that the healthcare worker initially came into the room "full of the joys of life" and dancing, describing his behaviour as "over the top."

She testified that after he finished with the girl, he came over to wash her, but was "too familiar," and she "took a swing at him" when his hands moved from her shoulder over to her breast area and stomach.

The trial was told she did not see what had happened around the girl's bed because the privacy curtains had been pulled.

The jury heard that the patient later noticed the girl's demeanour had completely changed, to being highly agitated. She testified that it was "frightening" to see a happy-go-lucky girl like her so upset.

The teen told her mother when she arrived that day, and it was then reported to the hospital authorities, who immediately notified gardaí.

A staff director told the trial that nurses give instructions to the agency healthcare workers who do not have access to medical notes. The director said their role was to provide feeding, hydration, and personal care, and that they are informed of the patient's needs.

The defence argued there was a communication breakdown in his instructions at the hospital.

Tshikala did not give evidence during the trial, but his Garda interviews were read into the record.

He told Athlone Divisional Protective Service Unit Detective Garda Elizabeth Glennon that he called the teen "baby" and said, "I am a blessing, make everyone feel good".

The jury heard that he explained it was because he was a father, caring for her and treating her like a baby daughter.

He tried to claim that other staff members had lied about him and that the girl had been manipulated by her mother, who had never met him.

Tshikala had insisted that he only cleaned her face, arm, and armpits, but admitted he overstepped his role in giving her a massage,

He told Detective Garda Glennon that the girl gave evidence that he used his left hand, but he had never actually used that arm.

Mr Ó Braonáin BL likened that account to an infamous 2019 BBC Newsnight television interview in which Britain's former Prince Andrew claimed he did not sweat.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.