Council blocks plans for new private hospital

THE founder of the famous Blackrock Clinic last night suffered a major setback to his proposals to build a multi-million euro private hospital in Cork when it emerged he has been refused planning permission.

The Sheehan Medical Corporation (SMC), which is led by Joseph Sheehan, one of the founders of the Blackrock Clinic and Galway Clinic, and his son James, who is director of the Blackrock Clinic, had applied for permission to build the 90-bed hospital in Bishopstown. Once fully operational, it was expected to employ 400 people.

Their proposal was for a six-storey building, near Dunnes Stores outlet at the Bishopstown roundabout. The company proposed to equip it with three 30-bed wards, 36 consulting suites, and four in-patient operating theatres.