A statement on the Dr Michael Neary affair from the order of nuns which ran Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda has been cautiously welcomed by representatives of the women operated on by the doctor.
In its first statement on the Neary case, the Medical Missionaries of Mary called for a public inquiry into the doctor, who is now to be struck off.
The order expressed its "deep regret and sorrow" to upwards of 60 women who lost their wombs in Caesarian hysterectomies carried out by the doctor.
The order made the statement after it emerged that Dr Neary has not appealed against the decision by the Medical Council to strike him off last month
Dr Neary had 21 days to lodge an appeal in the High Court against the decision, but according to the central office of the High Court, no lodgement was made by last Monday's deadline. The Irish Times contacted Dr Neary's home yesterday but was told that the doctor was "on holidays" and was unavailable for comment.
Medical authorities are aware of more than 60 women who have made similar allegations against Dr Neary, while the patients' rights group, Patient Focus, has been in contact with nearly 100 women about Dr Neary.
The Medical Missionaries ran Our Lady of Lourdes until 1997 when it was taken over by the North Eastern Health Board. Most of the cases involving Dr Neary occurred while the order was in charge of the hospital.
The order expressed its regret and sorrow "for the pain, sense of loss, hurt and anger of those women who had operations which deprived them of their ability to conceive and have further children". The statement also acknowledged the "dismay and sadness" caused to staff at the hospital.
According to the statement, the nuns also believed it was "important to seek answers about how and why this happened".
Ms Sheila O'Connor, from Patient Focus, gave a "cautious welcome" to the statement.
"Nobody can throw an apology back in people's faces, but they have very good reason to apologise. They ran the ship in Drogheda where these women were mutilated."