RALEIGH, N.C. — An employee at the state-run Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro has been fired following an incident earlier this year that put the hospital in jeopardy of losing federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid services.

Kevin Dunn was released from his position as a mental health technician after an internal investigation into a matter in April in which Dunn placed a pillow over a 22-year-old male patient's face to help restrain him.

Health and Human Services Secretary Lanier Cansler said last month that no one would be fired over the matter, because it was the result of employees not being adequately trained.

Mark Van Sciver, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Human Services, said further investigation, however, prompted Dunn's termination.

As a result of the incident, all employees at the Goldsboro facility are expected to undergo intensive retraining that involves a list of prohibited actions, Cansler has said.