The HSE have said staff are Garda vetted - but didn't comment on health worker Declan Power who this week emerged as a child predator jailed in the UK.
Sicko Power (58), from Dromiskin in Co Louth, was sentenced this week to two years and four months at Exeter Crown Court for child grooming offences.
It was claimed in Exeter Crown Court on Monday that Power worked as a health worker in Dundalk.
READ MORE: Gardai raid jailed paedo's Louth home as sick groomer's phony Facebook page exposed
When contacted by this paper, the HSE confirmed that they are aware of Power’s case.
But, in a statement, the HSE said: “We cannot comment on queries regarding named individuals, whether personnel, patients or otherwise, for reasons related to data protection and confidentiality.
However, the HSE said “all relevant personnel working in the HSE are Garda vetted and have the appropriate clearance.”
“The HSE can confirm that where required under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016, personnel engaged by the HSE are subject to Garda vetting. All relevant personnel working in the HSE are Garda vetted and have the appropriate clearances,” the statement said.
On Thursday, we revealed how gardai are focusing on the sick child groomer and raided his farmhouse cottage in Co Louth - where he purposely built an eight foot fence in recent weeks to prevent neighbours from becoming suspicious of his activities - on Tuesday evening.
In a statement to this paper, gardai said: “An Garda Siochana is aware of a conviction against an Irish National in the UK this week.”
They also confirmed they are in contact with the UK authorities.
We also revealed Power’s fake Facebook profile page that he used to initiate contact with the 13-year-old girl ‘Charlotte’ sending her sexual and vile messages.
Unbeknown to him, the ‘Charlotte’ was actually a decoy from a paedophile hunting group which trapped him.
Power had flown to the UK on July 14 with the intention of abducting and having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
The sicko, who has lived in Dromiskin for the past six years, had sent the ‘girl’ vile and sexual messages telling her he would have sex with her when her mother was not at home.
Chat logs showed he had told her she would have to disguise herself by dyeing her hair blond and would have to remain in his home to avoid detection.
Power was caught carrying condoms in his luggage and had return tickets for himself and the girl to Ireland two days later when he was caught by the paedo-hunting group.
On Monday at Exeter Crown Court he admitted attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to meet a child after grooming. He claimed he arranged to meet the girl when he was very isolated.
His defence barrister told the court: “It seems he acted out a fantasy about a sort of domestic situation which he sought to achieve.”
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