Former doctor accused of defrauding patients by promising cure for cancer

A former doctor from Co Clare has gone on trial accused of defrauding the families of two terminally ill cancer patients by promising them a cure.

Pascal Carmody (aged 69) of Ballycuggeran, Killaloe, has pleaded not guilty to nine charges relating to the payment of more than €16,000 for the treatment of a 15-year-old boy and a 58-year-old man who died more than 10 years ago.

Paschal Carmody ran the East Clinic in Killaloe and saw 15-year-old Conor O'Sullivan from Gorey, Co Wexford in July 2002 after he was diagnosed with a rare cancer - Ewings sarcoma - and given six months to live.

Giving evidence, his mother Christine fought back tears as she explained that Mr Carmody said he would cure her son's cancer, or at worst - keep him alive.

Conor died the following November.

Paschal Carmody has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of obtaining money from the O'Sullivan's on the false pretence that he could cure their son's cancer.

He also denies two similar charges relating to the treatment of the late John Sheridan of Kells, Co. Kilkenny who died from cancer in November 2002 aged 58.

It is the State's case that Mr Sheridan was also given Photodynamic Therapy which was described as a "new hope for cancer".

The case is expected to last three weeks.