The High Court has suspended an occupational therapist from the Irish professional register and prohibited him from practising while fitness-to-practise proceedings continue.
Mr Justice David Barniville made the interim orders on 1 July 2026 following an application by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, known as CORU. The respondent, identified as XW, was aware of the hearing but chose not to attend in person or remotely.
The case arose after CORU learned in February 2026 that XW was subject to fitness-to-practise proceedings in the United Kingdom. A UK tribunal had imposed an interim suspension order in July 2025 and subsequently renewed it.
Those UK proceedings concern allegations arising from XW's employment as a senior occupational therapist. They include allegations of inappropriate conduct towards the daughter of an elderly patient, comments of a sexual nature and concerns about clinical record keeping. The High Court stressed that those allegations remain unresolved and made no findings about them.
Separately, CORU raised concerns about XW's conduct in Ireland. XW acknowledged that he had failed to disclose the UK proceedings and suspension when renewing his Irish registration. Renewal forms included direct questions about proceedings and restrictions, to which he had answered no.
CORU also alleged that XW worked unsupervised as a senior occupational therapist at an Irish hospital between December 2025 and May 2026 while suspended from practice in the UK. There were further allegations concerning changes to his Irish registration information and inconsistent accounts of his employment. Those issues remain for any later inquiry.
The court found the complaint extremely serious, the available case strong and the potential eventual sanction serious. Balancing XW's rights to his reputation and livelihood against public protection, the judge held that suspension was necessary.
The orders remain until the fitness-to-practise process concludes or further court order. XW may apply to set them aside on seven days' notice.