Former Cullybackey nurse struck off after child sexual messages conviction

A former nurse who was living in Cullybackey at the time of the offence has been struck off by the profession’s regulator after a criminal conviction over indecent online messages referring to sexual activity with children.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has removed 56-year-old David Kenneth Paul McKeown from the register following a Fitness to Practise Committee hearing held on 17 March 2026.

The regulator imposed a striking-off order, alongside an interim suspension order for 18 months, bringing his nursing career to an end.

Court records show McKeown received a one-month jail sentence, suspended for one year, after pleading guilty to the offence.

The case stems from an incident on 21 November 2022.

Conviction followed KiK messaging investigation

According to the NMC’s published decision, McKeown was convicted at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on 11 January 2024.

The charge states that he sent, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message that was “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character”.

The regulator’s findings specify that the messages were online communications on KiK referring to sexual activity with children, contrary to Section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003.

The hearing papers show the case was referred to the NMC by the PSNI on 30 November 2022, days after his arrest on 25 November 2022 following an online chat using the KiK application.

During interview under caution, the report states McKeown admitted taking part in the chat on 21 November 2022 in a group called “daddy loves you best”.

He told police he believed it was a conversation among consenting adults, but accepted the discussion was wrong.

He later pleaded guilty on 30 November 2023.

Suspended jail sentence

The NMC report confirms that on 11 January 2024, McKeown received one month’s imprisonment suspended for one year.

Court records further show that at the time of the offence he was living at an address in Cullybackey, outside Ballymena.

Belfast Trust role and early retirement

The hearing papers also set out McKeown’s employment background.

He had been employed by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust from 28 August 2018, working as an Assistant Service Manager.

Following his arrest, he was suspended by the Trust on 13 December 2022.

He remained employed until 4 June 2024, when he took voluntary early retirement.

NMC: “unwarranted risk of harm”

In its written findings, the panel delivered some of its strongest criticism in setting out why McKeown’s fitness to practise remains impaired.

The report states: “Such deep seated attitudes are difficult to remediate.”

It goes on to say: “There is a likelihood of the conduct being repeated and so he presents an unwarranted risk of harm to those in his care.”

The panel further found that the conviction had “brought the profession into disrepute” and said the conduct “fell significantly below the standards expected of a registered nurse.”

In one of the most significant passages in the report, the NMC said:

“Nurses are placed in a position of trust. Discussions about sexual activity with children undermines that trust and so brings the profession into disrepute.”

The panel concluded that McKeown had breached fundamental tenets of the profession, including integrity, trust and compliance with the law.

Striking-off order now in force

The striking-off order means McKeown is no longer permitted to practise as a registered nurse.

The NMC said the sanction was necessary to protect the public, uphold professional standards and maintain confidence in the profession.

The outcome brings to a close a case that began with a PSNI investigation in late 2022 and has now ended with both a criminal conviction and permanent removal from the professional register.