Judge to advise Govt on Neary victims' compensation

The senior judge who revealed the shocking litany of malpractice by disgraced obstetrician Michael Neary will advise the Government on compensation for the dozens of women brutalised by him, it emerged today.

Judge Maureen Harding Clark will recommend a system of redress and payscales for Neary’s victims.

And it is hoped the package could be finalised by the end of the month.

Judge Clark will also be asked to advise on how those who failed to spot Neary’s years of malpractice can be forced to foot the bill. The Government is expected to examine whether hospital insurance schemes can carry some of the cost.

Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney said Judge Clark was the best person for the job.

“The quality of Judge Clark’s work and report has been universally acknowledged and I believe that she can bring her unique insights and skills to bear on the issue of redress,” Ms Harney said.

“She has the respect and confidence of the women affected and the other parties involved.”

Judge Clark’s report into Neary’s actions at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda found he performed 129 hysterectomies out of 188 between 1974 and 1998.

And she revealed concerns raised by a matron in 1978 and 1979 over the abnormally high number of caesarean hysterectomies went unheeded.

It was not until October 1998 that the scale of the scandal emerged when two midwives raised serious concerns about his practices.

Sheila O’Connor, spokeswoman for Patient Focus which represents many Neary victims, said they supported the appointment.

“We were agreeable and thought that she was a good idea. We are pleased,” she said.

And Ms O’Connor added that a compensation package could be agreed by the end of the month.

The Tánaiste also revealed she had asked officials in the Department of Health to draw up plans for stronger clinical governance arrangements in the health system.

Ms Harney said there was a need to study the implications of the Neary Report for the health services on top of plans for the new Medical Practitioners Act, reform of consultants contracts and changes in hospital management.

“We need to address the risk of such a level of malpractice happening again in the future,” she said.

“This means we need to identify and tackle weaknesses in any part of our health system – be it regulatory, governance, organisational, managerial or clinical.”

Ms Harney said she would bring proposals to the Cabinet table shortly ensuring the lessons learned through the Neary Report are built into stronger clinical governance.