THE Circuit Court in Cork has been told that Dr James Barry, the Cork doctor against whom allegations of misconduct have been made by female patients, is to return to his native city.
Dr Barry has not been seen in Cork since last summer when allegations were made by former patients that during examinations he made secret video recordings. Subsequently, gardai seized a number of tapes.
Some of the former patients are now seeking to have the tapes relating to their own cases returned to them, and Dr Barry has been ordered by the court not to reduce his assets in the State to below £30,000.
Yesterday, Dr Barry's solicitor, Mr Denis O'Sullivan, was granted an ex-parte application by Judge Patrick Moran, restraining Independent Newspapers Ltd, Cork Examiner Publications Ltd, and Sunday Newspapers Ltd, from approaching Dr Barry at his residence or any other place, once he returns to Cork at an unspecified date.
The court was told that Dr Barry intended to return to the jurisdiction but was afraid that "the defendants, by themselves or their respective servants or agents, will further harass and watch and beset the person of the plaintiff and the residence of the plaintiff, and further invade or unlawfully breach the plaintiff's right to privacy."
It was further stated that each of the newspapers named, or their agents, had published "innumerable falsehoods" concerning Dr Barry and that they had watched and beset" him and invaded his privacy, forcing him, in the interest of his health and privacy to reside outside the jurisdiction.
Dr Barry would be seeking £30,000 damages from each of the newspapers, the endorsement of claim said. Payment of this sum, plus costs yet to be determined, within six days would mean that all further proceedings would be stayed, it added.