The Nursing and Midwifery Council removed David Kenneth Paul McKeown from its register after a fitness to practise hearing on 17 March 2026. The 56-year-old former nurse lived in Cullybackey at the time of his offence. The panel issued a striking-off order and an 18-month interim suspension.

McKeown pleaded guilty at Belfast Magistrates' Court on 30 November 2023 to sending a grossly offensive message via a public electronic communications network. The conviction on 11 January 2024 related to online communications on the KiK app referring to sexual activity with children, under Section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003. He received a one-month jail term, suspended for one year.

Police arrested McKeown on 25 November 2022 after a chat on 21 November 2022 in a KiK group. The Police Service of Northern Ireland referred the case to the NMC on 30 November 2022. During police interview, he admitted joining the chat but said he thought it involved consenting adults.

McKeown worked as an Assistant Service Manager for Belfast Health and Social Care Trust from 28 August 2018. The Trust suspended him on 13 December 2022 and he took voluntary early retirement on 4 June 2024.

The NMC panel found his fitness to practise impaired due to risk of repetition and harm to patients. It stated the conviction damaged the profession's reputation and violated standards of integrity and trust.