Courts

Children’s care home provider pleads guilty to giving false information about staff

Garda vetting documents ‘altered’ and background checks faked

Karen Akwuobi, a director of Ideal Care Services, admitted failing to satisfy Tusla that staff numbers, their experience and qualifications were adequate at a care home in Carlow
Karen Akwuobi, a director of Ideal Care Services, admitted failing to satisfy Tusla that staff numbers, their experience and qualifications were adequate at a care home in Carlow
Tom Tuite
Wed Feb 12 2025 - 15:47

A company that provided emergency accommodation for vulnerable children in care has pleaded guilty to using “altered” Garda vetting documents and fake background checks for its staff.

Karen Akwuobi, a director of Ideal Care Services, admitted failing to satisfy Tusla that staff numbers, their experience and qualifications were adequate at a care home, The Laurels in Carlow, on March 7th, 2023.

The company pleaded guilty to the same offence on the same date at the same location and three other offences. The offending involved submitting false or misleading background checks to Tusla including “altered” Garda vetting documents, false staff references and falsified records of reference checks.

The criminal proceedings commenced last April against Ideal Care Services, of Base Enterprise Centre, Ladyswell Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, and Ms Akwuobi, of Mount Garrett Rise, Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15.

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Tusla brought the prosecution before Dublin District Court under the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) regulations and the Child Care Act.

Judge Anthony Halpin heard this was the first time a case had been brought under these laws.

Tusla’s barrister told a previous hearing the matters involved in the case were “particularly serious” given they related to children’s residential services. He said that while they were summary charges being dealt with at District Court level, convictions can carry custodial sentences. The agency did not pursue charges concerning another care home in Dublin.

Barrister Morgan Shelly, instructed by solicitor Arthur Denneny for Tusla, said the case would proceed on a “full facts” basis and the other matters would be taken into consideration.

Judge Halpin granted an adjournment until March 10th, when prosecution facts are to be outlined and the defence is to address the court in mitigation.

Connected charges brought against another company director, Victor Arinze, also known as Victor Illoh, of Beechfield Heights, Clonee, Dublin 15, were dropped.