Ulster Unionist Party Leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has called for tougher laws and sentence appeal mechanisms in cases involving the abuse of patients in care, following an update from the Public Prosecution Service.

Mr Burrows said:

“Despite this case being heard in the Crown Court, where imprisonment was available as a sentencing option, the Public Prosecution Service has informed me that the Director of Public Prosecutions cannot refer this particular case to the Court of Appeal for a review of the sentence.

“The PSNI, the Public Prosecution Service, the victims’ families and Corvan’s former colleagues deserve enormous praise for securing this landmark conviction. Their professionalism, perseverance and courage ensured that justice was done. However, the limitations of the current law are stark and deeply concerning.

“The facts of this case are beyond disturbing. Over a period of 14 months, four highly vulnerable patients suffering from advanced dementia were mistreated by someone in a position of trust. Some of that abuse was recorded on a mobile phone and shared with others. One victim was recorded in a bath. These were calculated, repeated and utterly vile acts against people who were among the most vulnerable members of our society.

“Yet the maximum sentence available for these offences is two years’ imprisonment, and the Director of Public Prosecutions currently has no statutory power to refer this case to the Court of Appeal after a non-custodial sentence was imposed.

“This case has exposed a serious gap in the law that must now be addressed.

“It remains my view that this offending warranted a custodial sentence. Community service and probation are, in my opinion, an insufficient response to the sustained and deliberate abuse of vulnerable patients by a trusted care worker. The sentence was weak and is now beyond redress.

“Northern Ireland has some of the most dedicated, compassionate and professional care workers anywhere in the world. They devote their lives to looking after those who cannot look after themselves. Ciara Corvan’s actions stand in complete contrast to the values of that profession and represent one of the most depraved breaches of trust imaginable.

“We need stronger laws, stronger sentencing powers and a justice system that better reflects the seriousness of offending involving vulnerable victims and the abuse of trust. Public protection, punishment and deterrence must be given proper weight alongside rehabilitation. We must ensure appropriate weight is given to the vulnerability of victims and the profound abuse of trust in cases of this nature.

“I will now be engaging with the Justice Minister to seek changes to the law, including a review of the maximum available sentence, and to ensure that the Director of Public Prosecutions has the power to refer all convictions involving the abuse of vulnerable persons to the Court of Appeal when the sentence is considered unduly lenient. Cases involving the deliberate abuse of the most vulnerable people in our society deserve nothing less.”