Sir, - I refer to the letter from Nora Geraghty regarding Dr Moira Woods and the Medical Council, (February 26th).
The complainants involved in the inquiry were most disappointed atDr Woods's decision not to appeal the findings and recommendationsimposed on her by the Fitness to Practise Committee of the MedicalCouncil. An appeal would have ensured a re-hearing of the particularcases in the High Court - and, more importantly, in public, exactly asthe complainants and the Medical Council wanted in the first place.
While we note Ms Geraghty's concern for Dr Woods and her familyhaving to live with the inquiry for 10 years, we also note the lack ofconcern or compassion for those who were wrongly accused.
Ms Geraghty implies that Dr Woods was not found guilty of falseaccusations of child sexual abuse, but of procedural lapses on aminority of points. The Fitness to Practise Committee, by a majority,thought otherwise in a number of cases.
Ms Geraghty also says Dr Woods is a well qualified doctor who couldhave made a lot of money quietly from private patients. While Dr Woodswas a qualified doctor, her qualifications in the area of investigatingand validation of alleged cases of child sexual abuse left a lot to bedesired. And money was not a problem or priority for Dr Woods.
Ms Geraghty asks if all those who were involved in the casesconsidered in the inquiry are now open to the possibility of aninvestigation into their work, followed by media publicity. The answerto Ms Geraghty's question is a resounding yes. - Yours, etc.,
Chairman,
Vocal-Ireland,
Basin Street Upper,
Dublin 8.