Inquiry criticises failure to notice Dr Neary’s actions

The inquiry set up to investigate the number of unnecessary womb removals carried out by Dr Michael Neary has reportedly criticised the failure of the authorities to notice what was going on.

Reports this morning said the inquiry had found that Dr Neary, a former consultant obstetrician at Our Lady's Hospital in Drogheda, carried out 129 hysterectomies between 1974 and 1998 on women who had given birth less than six weeks previously.

Most doctors would carry out less than 10 such operations in their careers.

This morning's reports said the inquiry, chaired by Judge Maureen Harding Clark, had concluded that it was difficult to understand how this could happen without questions being asked.

It found that inspections by three separate professional bodies failed to uncover the high level of hysterectomies being carried out by Dr Neary.

The inquiry has also reportedly found that files relating to many of the patients involved had been deliberately removed from Our Lady's Hospital.

The findings are due to be formally published tomorrow.