Neary redress scheme starts in two weeks

THE State’s redress scheme, established to compensate women who had their wombs removed unnecessarily by disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary, will get under way in two weeks’ time.

The commencement of the scheme, on Friday June 15, will be preceded by a series of advertisements next weekend, which will also be directed at women who had ovaries removed by the doctor at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda between 1974 and 1998.

The move follows the discovery of an unusually high number of ovariesremoved by Dr Neary, with up to 80 women believed to be affected.

The Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme, was agreed by the Government last April and expected to cost about €45 million.

Patient Focus, a group representing victims of Dr Neary, said it will also be placing advertisements to ensure all women harmed by the doctor contacted the board.

The group has also rejected a claim by lawyer Raymond Bradley, who has acted in many big medical actions, that the redress scheme was flawed.

Mr Bradley has argued that the same entitlements as the high and supreme courts in relation to the calculation of damages should apply.

“The delivery of less is heaping a further injustice upon persons who havealready been afflicted,” he said.

Mr Bradley said the establishment of a compensation scheme based upon a points scheme failed to recognise the seriousness of the assault, the trespass to the person and the infringement of basic bodily integrity caused to the doctor’s victims.

Patient Focus spokesperson and a former patient of Dr Neary, Cathriona Molloy, said, however, that her group welcomed the establishment of the redress scheme.

“It is impossible for any scheme to be 100% perfect but, overall, we and the women involved are pleased with it,” said Ms Molloy.

She also pointed out that it was envisaged that the scheme would not beadversarial.