Hospital anaesthetist admits making indecent photographs of children

Nevin Farrell

An anaesthetist who worked at an Irish hospital has pleaded guilty to a number of charges of making indecent photographs of children.

Piotr Dziurdzik, of Meetinghouse Street, Ballymoney, appeared at Antrim Crown Court on Wednesday where his case was listed as a trial.

However, Dziurdzik, who had worked at Coleraine's Causeway Hospital, entered the dock and asked to be re-arraigned on the charges and pleaded guilty.

The 33 charges include 27 of making indecent photographs of children; three of possession of prohibited images of a child and three of possession of extreme pornographic images.

The offences were committed between 2012 and 2015.

Defence barrister Francis Rafferty asked for a pre-sentence report ahead of sentencing.

Judge Gordon Kerr QC said the defendant will now be subject to notification regarding the Sex Offenders Register.

Sentencing will take place in November.

Dziurdzik's age was not listed on court documents. His address was listed on earlier court documents as at Grange Road, Coleraine but now Ballymoney.

It is understood he no longer works at the Causeway Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the Northern Health Trust, which runs the hospital, had not immediately responded on Wednesday when asked for a comment.

Anaesthetists are specialist doctors who are responsible for providing anaesthesia to patients for operations and procedures.