A LABOUR Party TD, Mr Brian Fitzgerald, has welcomed the Medical Council's decision to hold a sworn inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse made against a consultant at a Drogheda hospital from which he has now retired.
However, he said that the council should have moved more quickly and begun such an inquiry some time ago. The sworn inquiry will be carried out by the Council's Fitness to Practise Committee, and will begin in a few weeks.
The consultant in question, retired from his post at the hospital last October. He had voluntarily absented himself from work since the first complaint was received by the hospital in March, apart from a two week period in August during which he briefly returned to work.
Gardai in Drogheda now confirm they have received 19 complaints against the former employee of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
Files were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to two of the cases last summer, but a decision was taken not to prosecute because of the length of time that had elapsed since the alleged offences took place. Files relating to the other 17 cases have now been sent to the DPP.
Meanwhile, the External Review Group established by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to examine its response to the allegations has extended its deadline for the receipt of written submissions. The Review Group was established in November, and initially set a deadline of January 12th.
Mr Fitzgerald said he had written to the chairman of the council and raised points he wanted answered.
They include does the council notify the relevant Health Board and Minister as soon as an investigation begins against one of its members; how much time elapses between the receipt of allegations and the commencement of investigations; is the person against whom the allegations have been made suspended while the investigation is being conducted; and how many such cases has the council received complaints on in the last two years?