SAPOL nurse contractor Fiona Catherine Riley, 45, allegedly accessed confidential documents to damage reputation of woman

A nurse contracted to SAPOL allegedly used its confidential systems to dig up dirt on a woman she was in a legal dispute with, a court has heard.

A nurse contracted to work in SA police stations and cells allegedly used her clearance to access and send confidential reports about a woman she was in an estate dispute with – and her conduct could “erode” public confidence in SAPOL, a court has heard.

On Tuesday, Fiona Catherine Riley, 45, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court as her lawyer argued state prosecutors did not have enough to lead a case on.

Magistrate Simon Smart heard Ms Riley on multiple occasions in late 2021 and early 2022 allegedly accessed internal SAPOL incident reports and Child Protection reports – which are all confidential from the public.

Fiona Riley’s counsel said his client had already been punished for her alleged offending by losing her job. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

John Lyons, for Ms Riley, said his client “should not have done it” but criminal sanctions were not warranted because she had already been punished.

“In my respectful submission she has been punished … well she has been sacked,” Mr Lyons said.

Mr Smart said that was an argument in mitigation of conduct, and a matter for a jury and potential sentencing judge, but the crown case still needed to be answered.

“There is an important aspect of general deterrence here for any sentencing court … the simple fact of the matter is you can’t have people with access to sensitive information disseminating it other than in accordance with their obligations,” Mr Smart said.

“Otherwise, public confidence in the confidentiality of that material, people making reports to police, people providing statements, whatever it is will be eroded.”

The court heard Ms Riley had allegedly accessed computers in Elizabeth and Port Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Ms Riley has entered not guilty pleas to five counts of exerting power as a public officer to secure benefit.

Prosecutors alleged Ms Riley, of Virginia, committed the offences between December 18, 2021 and 27 March, 2022 in the Elizabeth police cells and in Port Adelaide.

The court heard Ms Riley allegedly accessed police incident reports, child protection reports and documents relating to police inquiries to send them to her niece.

Ms Riley allegedly accessed reports of persons she was embroiled in a deceased estate dispute about, and prosecutors alleged the conduct was done to tarnish the other party’s reputation.

Ms Smart found Mr Lyons did not dissuade the belief Ms Riley had a case to answer, and upon her not guilty pleas, remanded her on continuing bail to return to court next year.

Originally published as SAPOL nurse contractor Fiona Catherine Riley, 45, allegedly accessed confidential documents to damage reputation of woman