‘Dangerous’ wait for pathologist under attack

THE 18-month delay in making the appointment of a second state pathologist was last night described as “leaving Ireland very dangerously exposed”.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe said that since the Sophie Toscan de Plantier murder in west Cork, the need to have a second pathologist was well established.

But, describing the delay in recruiting a deputy to State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy as inexcusable, he said: “The Department of Justice has a case to answer. One person cannot provide 24-hour cover for 52 weeks of the year.”