The findings of an investigation into how organs were removed from children during post-mortems without the knowledge of their parents will be made known within a fortnight, Department of Health officials confirmed yesterday.
The investigation was carried out by the Department and concerned organ removals at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, in Crumlin.
Senior Department officials assured members of the Parents for Justice group that they would be provided with details of the inquiry. The group also met the hospital's chief executive officer, Mr Paul Kavanagh, and senior staff yesterday, and heard more disturbing revelations.
Mrs Breda Butler, Rockchapel, Co Cork, had previously been told by a senior doctor at the hospital that the heart of her son, Joseph, had been removed and incinerated without her permission. Yesterday, she was told they had also taken his lungs.
The parents were informed that the hospital kept no records prior to 1997 as to what happened to organs which had been removed.
During the meeting, the group learnt that the pathologist who removed many of the organs was alive. Previously, they had been told he was dead. They were also told that between early 1997 and early 1998, organs were sent to Holland for incineration.
It is believed that over 400 families have now contacted the hospital to discover if their children's organs were removed without their knowledge.
Ms Fionnuala O'Reilly, a spokeswoman for Parents for Justice, said the new revelations were extremely disturbing and seriously undermined their confidence in the hospital.
The group is seeking a public inquiry into the post-mortem practices at Our Lady's. Ms O'Reilly said they were hopeful this request would be granted.
Medical staff at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children at Crumlin in Dublin on Wednesday apologised for retaining children's organs after post-mortems.
In a statement signed by Dr Hugh Monaghan, chairman of the hospital's medical board, staff also said they "would welcome and fully co-operate with any professional inquiry".
Parents for Justice will hold a service of dedication and commemoration for the children at the centre of the organ removal controversy at the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin on Sunday at 3.30 p.m.
The group will hold its second public meeting at the Central Hotel, Mallow, on Sunday, January 23rd at 2 p.m.