Fiona Mhairi Morris: Nurse sentenced for cancer con of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse

A Sydney nurse was not motivated by greed when she received thousands of dollars in sick leave after faking a cancer relapse, a court has been told.

A Sydney nurse who faked a cancer relapse and was paid thousands in undeserved sick leave didn’t do it for the money, a court has been told.

Fiona Mhairi Morris sat solemnly as Newtown Local Court was told a lifelong mental health struggle was the “primary motivating factor” behind a three-year deception of her bosses and co-workers.

Magistrate Fiona McCarron on Tuesday said Morris’ “significantly complicated mental health issue”, which she was careful not to name, had manifested in a desire for the “attention, sympathy of her colleagues”.

Fiona Mhairi Morris after her first court appearance in November. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

The court was told Morris, 36, was working as a registered nurse at specialist cancer hospital the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney’s inner west in 2017 when she began to spin a “relatively intricate, detailed web of lies”.

Previously a genuine bone cancer survivor, she told her employer she was again battling a terminal cancer and needed treatment.

Over the next three years the hospital would pay $16,206 for the 42 days of sick leave she took off until her cover was blown and she was sacked in June 2020.

Morris has now repaid those ill-gotten funds and will serve a 12-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to two counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

The 36-year-old mother was charged by police in October 2020. Picture: Nine News

In delivering sentence, Ms McCarron was satisfied the Harrington Park woman’s ”ongoing, relatively lengthy course of conduct” was driven by her poor mental health.

“When she began employment with Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, this (mental) illness manifested itself in a way in which it did, in that she told her employer that she suffered from a terminal illness, cancer, and that she was undergoing treatment,” the magistrate said.

“It was a relatively intricate, detailed web of lies. The nurse was clearly very unwell at the time (mentally).”

The court was told Morris’ lawyers had unsuccessfully attempted to have her charges dismissed under the Mental Health Act at a previous hearing.

The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse is a specialist cancer treatment and research facility in Camperdown. Picture: Supplied

Ms McCarron said Morris, a mother, had been an otherwise upstanding member of the community and repaying the sick leave showed her contrition and remorse.

She said Morris had betrayed the trust of her co-workers and employer and the “generosity of spirit” they showed in supporting her through a phony cancer fight.

With Morris facing 10 years in prison, the magistrate said she felt a community corrections order was appropriate. She added Morris had already been dealt the extra punishment of losing her career.

“It is very unlikely that Ms Morris will ever be employed as a registered nurse in the future … that was her chosen career and I’m of the view that path will never be available to her,” Ms McCarron said.

Fiona Morris made a quick getaway outside Newtown Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Barrister Matthew Robinson successfully argued against Morris having to repay the hospital another $16,206 claimed as compensation for having to employ another nurse to cover her missed shifts.

Mr Robinson said the hospital would have been paying another staff member to provide that care even if “Ms Morris never existed”, so she could not be held liable.

He said his client only had $8000 in the bank, was renting her home and had to pay for ongoing mental health treatment.

Outside court Morris, hood pulled over her head, avoided questions and news cameras as she ran to a waiting red car, which promptly sped off.