The Vice Squad and District police are investigating the alleged abuse on a 10-year old disabled boy who was allegedly beaten last week by a nurse at Mount Carmel Hospital.

Police sources said once the investigation is concluded the report will be given to the Attorney General and he will decide whether to prosecute the male nurse or not.

The boy’s mother, Marvy Casha, insisted yesterday she is not seeking financial compensation but simply wants justice for her son. “I wanted this case to be out in the public so that such abuses will stop and justice will prevail for my son.”

She was reacting to a statement by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses which alleged that her story was “fabricated” for financial gain.  She is challenging the union to produce any proof that she is after financial compensation from the government.

The nurses’ union launched an attack on The Malta Independent yesterday after this paper revealed the alleged abuse case on our Sunday edition.

The MUMN said it was cautioning The Malta Independent not to “exert undue pressure on police cases as well as departmental and internal investigations at Mount Carmel Hospital.”

It said that, once this paper had done its duty to inform the public about the alleged abuse case, it should respect the natural course of the investigation and wait for the outcome. It went on to allege that, because of this “undue pressure” by the media, the inspector investigating the case would be taking a person to court “without having the necessary proof.”

The MUMN said that, in this way, the media could be acting as “an accomplice to someone who is fabricating a story for financial compensation because they were going through a financially difficult time.” It claimed to be informed that the woman was seeking a sum of money.

Ms Casha is challenging the union to say where and when she made such statements about compensation. She added that no one from the union ever contacted her about what had happened. “All I want is for my son to get better and no longer be traumatised. When I was advised by the consultant to take my son to Mount Carmel’s Youth Residency I did so for his own good, however for him it was a nightmare.”

Mount Carmel CEO Dr Clifton Grima had informed this newsroom that an internal investigation has been launched and that the alleged incident was reported to the police by the senior nurse and an extensive internal investigation was also initiated.” He went on to say that if the allegations are found to be true, the staff member in question will be disciplined as per public services regulations. Dr Grima also said that the nurse in question has been redeployed to another ward “as per standard procedure.”