Lynch rails over failure to prosecute Michael Neary

LABOUR TD Kathleen Lynch has demanded to know why former obstetrician Michael Neary had not been prosecuted for “destroying the lives of women and entire families”.

Ms Lynch (Cork North Central), raised the question of the former Drogheda obstetrician who was struck off in 2003 for removing the wombs of 10 women unnecessarily. Ms Lynch told the House: “I am not certain I can still call him ‘Dr’ ” because he had been struck off.

She said people who failed to pay their television licences were being jailed, but this man who had destroyed “the lives of women and entire families” had not been prosecuted.

Ms Lynch said the Harding-Clark report was “very clear. If he is not prosecuted, why does this Government not set up a compensation fund to compensate the women for the wrong that was done to them?”

She referred to the RTÉ Prime Time documentary about symphysiotomies and its claim that hospital records indicated he had carried out such a procedure on at least one patient. Mr Neary denied this on the programme and asked if “the smell of money” was now why women were seeking an inquiry.

The symphysiotomy is a surgical procedure to permanently widen the pelvis and was performed on up to 1,500 women during childbirth, resulting in many cases in incontinence and pain.

Minister for Health Mary Harney has said the practice, discontinued 27 years ago, appears barbaric, but she has also said she believes there is no role for a Government inquiry.

In an angry Dáil outburst Ms Lynch asked why “in light of recent revelations about the said Michael Neary and the outrageous carry on he conducted for over 30 years”, he had not been prosecuted? She asked “why that man is still walking around, free”?

There was criminal legislation under which he could be prosecuted “for destroying the lives of many women; the total number is unknown. He had the audacity to appear on television and tell us that now all he does is play golf.”

Ceann Comhairle Séamus Kirk said the deputy should submit a parliamentary question, while Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said it was a matter for the Garda.