DPP ponders prosecutions after death of elderly patient

THE Director of Public Prosecutions is to decide if criminal prosecutions should be brought against the medical authorities and staff at Cavan General Hospital following the death of an elderly patient in November 2003.

It was confirmed yesterday that gardaí have forwarded a file on their investigation into the death of retired schoolteacher, Rose Duke, at the hospital to the DPP in the last few days.

An official garda inquiry into the circumstances of Ms Duke’s death began after two reports by medical experts were highly critical of the treatment she received at Cavan General Hospital.