Carmody colleague was struck off in US, court hears

THE doctor who administered photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment to two terminally ill cancer patients under the care of Dr Paschal Carmody had been struck off in the US, a court has heard.

Dr Bill Porter administered the PDT treatment to the late 15-year-old Conor O’Sullivan and the late 58-year-old John Sheridan of Kells, Co Kilkenny, in a building adjacent to the East Clinic, Killaloe, in 2001-2.

In a garda interview read out to the jury at Ennis Circuit Court, Det Sgt Oliver Nevin told retired doctor Thomas Cleary that Dr Porter had been struck off in the US for abandoning a patient. Dr Cleary said that it was his understanding that Dr Porter had been struck off in California because he had not paid alimony to his first wife and this wouldn’t be unusual in California.

Dr Porter concealed his strike off the US register when applying for work at Mr Carmody’s clinic.

Dr Carmody is denying defrauding relatives of two cancer patients of €16,554 concerning the PDT treatment given to the two.

Seven of the nine charges relate to Conor O’Sullivan, who died from an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2002. The remaining two relate to John Sheridan who died from liver cancer in November 2002.

In court yesterday, Matt Murphy said that he worked with Dr Porter at the East Clinic and told the court that he believes Dr Porter is now in China. Mr Murphy said that some cancer patients were refused treatment at the clinic as they were too unwell and their prognosis wasn’t good.

Yesterday, after evidence, Judge Donagh McDonagh, the jury and the two legal teams travelled to Killaloe to view the clinic.

The trial continues on Monday.