Shatter drawn into pathologist controversy

Controversy surrounding the sudden resignation of the deputy state pathologist has provoked demands for Justice Minister Alan Shatter to make an emergency statement to the Dáil on the matter.

Dr Khalid Jaber’s exit appears to have followed a period of mounting tension with his boss Marie Cassidy.

Justice department officials refused to comment on whether he stood down of his own accord or been asked to do so by Mr Shatter, but insisted the situation would not adversely impact on pending court cases.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins insisted the minister should tell the Dáil the full facts regarding the resignation.

“I am extremely disappointed to learn that there has been a dispute at the centre of the state pathologists office. This seems to have been ongoing for some time and I will be seeking to question Minister Shatter on the matter this week regarding what level of contact and involvement he has had in trying to deal with this issue.

“Professor Cassidy and her team play an extremely important role in our criminal justice system and it is essential that there is public confidence in the Office of the State Pathologist at all times.”

The Saudi-born medic took up the post as one of two deputy state pathologists in 2010, but reports of an uneasy working relationship with Prof Cassidy have circulated.

In light of Dr Jaber’s resignation, the justice department moved to state it did not believe this would have adverse implications for cases due to come before the courts with which he had been involved.

Dr Jaber could still be called to give evidence, or if he was unable to attend, the matter could be referred to a senior pathologist to take over, department sources said.

In a sign of the tense working relationship between Dr Jaber and his boss, Prof Cassidy, Dr Jaber used a newspaper interview to question her suitability for the role as state pathologist after he quit.

The move followed reports that Prof Cassidy had written to the DPP expressing reservations about the quality of his evidence in cases of suspicious death.

Northern Ireland’s state pathologist also contacted the justice department with complaints about Dr Jaber, it was claimed.

A judge ordered the retrial of a murder suspect last month after doubts emerged regarding Dr Jaber’s evidence. Mr Justice Barry White told a jury at the Central Criminal Court that “certain concerns” had arisen relating to the medical opinion of Dr Jaber.

He said this related to Dr Jaber’s opinion as to the “mechanism of death” in the case before them.