Mr Charles Flanagan, Fine Gael TD for Laois Offaly, yesterday lost a High Court challenge to the Midland Health Board's decision to locate its cancer services in Tullamore.
Mr Justice Kearns said the Tullamore decision was "soundly founded". The MHB voted 18 to 9 in April 1998 to locate the regional oncological services in Portlaoise. In September it was unanimously agreed to switch to Tullamore.
Mr Flanagan claimed the decision was seen as a political intervention to advantage Tullamore. The judge found that Mr Flanagan could have put down a motion for an MHB meeting; the decision could have been altered, had he had the requisite support, without going to court.