Evidence withheld - Justice stymied

As many retired bankers or exiled property developers will confirm, our justice system moves at a glacial pace.

Today we report on another situation where justice is being delayed if not stymied. A solicitor representing 50 people fitted with faulty DePuy hips has said there were “appalling delays in obtaining records”, particularly from Cork University Hospital where the average release time was six months. He has also claimed that it is very difficult to get orthopaedic surgeons in Ireland to testify in the case.

It is incomprehensible that it should take anything like six months to retrieve documents needed for a court case subject to a two-year time limit. It is just disappointing that these people cannot get even one surgeon to testify on their behalf. This case stinks of the abuse of position and the relevant authority should offer a satisfactory explanation.