DR James Barry, the Cork doctor who is being sued privately by a number of former female patients because of allegations of misconduct, dropped out of sight again yesterday. His solicitor, Mr Denis O'Sullivan, refused to reveal his whereabouts.
On Monday Dr Barry flew from a Sussex seaside resort in Britain to Cork to attend a sitting of Cork Circuit Court where a decision was being made on whether to continue injunctions against three Irish publications, rest raining them from approaching the doctor or photographing him. Dr Barry had not been seen in Cork since last summer when the allegations against him first became public.
The controversy came to light when one female patient alleged that her examination by Dr Barry was being recorded secretly on video. Subsequently, gardai seized a number of video tapes showing other women being examined. These are now in Garda custody.
Over the past few months, some former patients have sought in the courts to have their personal videos returned to them. This issue will be decided by the courts within the next two weeks.
Two former women patients have already succeeded in obtaining court orders preventing Dr Barry from reducing his assets in the State to below £30,000 they are suing him for breach of their constitutional right to privacy and bodily integrity. They allege that when they visited his surgery at Sidney Place he subjected them, to unwarranted and unnecessary physical examinations.
Some months ago the High Court suspended Dr Barry from the medical register following an application by the Irish Medical Council.
Last Friday Cork Examiner Publications Ltd, Irish Independent Newspapers Ltd and Sunday Newspapers Ltd were prevented, by an injunction from approaching or photographing Dr Barry, whenever he returned to the jurisdiction.
When the case for a continuing injunction was heard on Monday, Judge Patrick Moran lifted the injunction. Dr Barry refused to comment after the hearing.
Asked yesterday if Di Barry would make himself available to The Irish Times for interview, Mr O'Sullivan said his client "will not be granting any interviews".