Patients' groups hails fresh garda probe into hysterectomies scandal

A patients’ support group has welcomed news of a fresh garda investigation connected to the number of hysterectomies carried out at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Detectives have been investigating the disappearance of a number of files from the Co Louth hospital and are expected to question disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary in the coming weeks.

Health Minister Mary Harney sent a copy of a report by Judge Maureen Harding Clark to Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy after it was published in March.

The report revealed that 188 women had their wombs removed over a 25-year period, 129 of the operations were carried out by Dr Neary.

Judge Harding Clark said there was a deliberate, careful and systematic removal of key historical documents from the hospital and that someone with a misplaced sense of loyalty to Dr Neary was probably responsible.

Sheila O’Connor of Patient Focus said she was relieved there’d finally been some progress.

“Women are very pleased but they think it was inevitable given the fact that the Tánaiste referred the report with all its forensic detail as to how the files were removed from the hospital to the gardai for further examination,” she said.

“As we understand it, they’re looking at the report line by line.

“There’s no doubt whatsoever but the files were maliciously removed by somebody who knew exactly what they were doing and yes, it’s good news.”

Gardai investigated the disappearance of medical files relating to more than 40 women at the centre of the controversy last year.

A file on the case was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who directed that no further action be taken.

Dr Neary, who was abroad at the time of the publication of Judge Harding Clark’s report, returned home recently. He denies any knowledge of the missing files.