Curtin's doctors ordered to appear before committee

THREE medical consultants who have treated Judge Brian Curtin have been directed to appear before the committee collecting evidence relating to the Circuit Court judge's alleged possession of child pornography.

Fianna Fáil TD Denis O'Donovan, the chairman of the seven-person committee, confirmed yesterday that formal letters had been delivered to the three doctors yesterday, directing them to appear at the next committee hearing on September 14.

It invoked its compellability powers under Section Three of the Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witness Act 1997.

All three consultants are believed to be attached to the St John of God Hospital in Stillorgan, Co Dublin.

The committee wants to establish if Judge Curtin is fit to instruct his lawyers at present. At the Committee's first hearing on Tuesday, the judge's counsel John Rogers SC and a psychiatrist said he was not fit to give evidence and would not be able to for at least three months.

However, before agreeing to a three-month deferral, the committee decided it would first hear medical evidence from the consultants, in addition to an evaluation of the evidence from a medical expert who is advising the committee.

The Irish Examiner also understands the committee is considering invoking its powers to direct Judge Curtin to hand over his home computer and related equipment.

Evidence collected from the Tralee-based judge's home computer were deemed inadmissible at his criminal trial on charges of possession of child pornography earlier this year.

The trial collapsed when the judge, Caroll Moran, ruled that the warrant used by gardaí to search his home had expired.

Separately, the committee is also believed to be in ongoing contact with the Texas detective who led the investigation into a US-based child pornography site.

Names supplied by the US authorities of Irish clients of the site led to the arrest of Judge Curtin under the gardaí's high-profile Operation Amethyst investigation.

"We will sit for three consecutive days in September beginning on the 14th," said Mr O'Donovan yesterday.

"Having heard the medical evidence, we will be in a position to form a view as to whether Judge Curtin is fit to give evidence or should be granted a deferral."