THE 129 women who had their wombs unnecessarily removed by Drogheda gynaecologist Michael Neary are to share €30 million in compensation, it was confirmed last night.

Fine Gael and the Labour Party are calling on the Government to set up a watchdog to ensure patient safety in the healthcare system.

MORE than 120 women who had their wombs unnecessarily removed by Drogheda gynaecologist Dr Michael Neary are expected to get up to €30 million in compensation under a redress scheme.

A CONFLICT between the Health Minister Mary Harney and the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the question of providing more hospital beds is paralysing the country’s hospitals, the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) has claimed.

Concerns have been raised today as to how disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary continued to work in a Co Louth hospital despite an investigation by colleagues in 1998.

THE president of the Medical Council last night said doctors should be legally obliged to notify the council about incompetent or “aberrant” practices by colleagues.

A damning report into the practices of disgraced doctor Michael Neary tonight described the number of hysterectomies performed at a Co Louth hospital as truly shocking.

THE long-awaited report into why Dr Michael Neary unnecessarily removed the wombs of approximately 60 women without their consent or knowledge has still not been presented to Health Minister Mary Harney nine months after the supposed deadline.

WOMEN who had their wombs needlessly removed and had other gynaecological procedures performed on them by disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary, have accused the Government of dragging its heels in ensuring other woman would not suffer as they did.