The Department of Justice plans to initiate recruitment procedures before the end of the month for a new State pathologist following the retirement of Prof John Harbison after nearly 30 years' service.
The 67-year-old, Dublin-born doctor, who in 1974 became the State's first forensic pathologist, ceased carrying out post-mortems and examinations at crime scenes a month ago. He will, however, continue to give evidence in the courts on all investigations which are active and in which he has been involved.
A spokesman for the department yesterday confirmed Prof Harbison's retirement, which had not been publicised. The spokesman added: "Preparations for a replacement will be put in train in the next week or two."
Prof Harbison had been due to retire in January 2001, when aged 65, but he agreed to remain in the post for a further two years.
His departure means an added workload for assistant State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, who was appointed in January 1998 amid much public criticism over lack of resourcing for the service.
Prof Harbison had in 1996 told the department he was "battle weary" as the sole person responsible for examinations at crime scenes, and subsequent post-mortems on the bodies of people who may have suffered violent deaths.
The son of a doctor who held various positions as county and city medical officer, Prof Harbison was born and still lives in the Howth area of north Co Dublin. He graduated in medicine from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1960, where he has lectured in medical jurisprudence since 1974.
In 1991, he was appointed professor of forensic medicine and toxicology at the Royal College of Surgeons. As State pathologist he has carried out some 100 post-mortems a year.
