Civil cases against Dr Barry ‘weakened’

LEGAL experts have warned that the failure of the State to successfully criminally prosecute a Cork GP on 212 counts of alleged sexual assault has seriously weakened the dozens of civil cases being taken by former patients.

Around 70-100 civil cases against Dr James Barry, 80, have been commenced, and a number of these were already settled for minor amounts. Solicitors estimate that a further 30-50 women were awaiting the criminal prosecution before mounting civil proceedings.

Cork solicitor John Boylan, who is representing a number of Dr Barry’s alleged victims, has warned there is a “strong possibility” that Dr Barry’s defence team will attempt to use the same defence in the civil proceedings which allowed them to avoid prosecution in the criminal cases.