Fergus O'Dowd
Question:364. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if he will respond to and his views on a press release from an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9370/24]
View answerTuesday, 27 February 2024
Questions (364)
Written answers
I have been informed that, in January 2010, the then Minister for Health and Children appointed the Hon. TC Smyth, SC, retired Judge of the High Court, to carry out an independent non-statutory review into the procedures and practices operating at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda during the period 1964 to 1995 to protect patients from sexual abuse while undergoing treatment or care at the hospital and to deal with allegations of sexual abuse against Mr. Michael Shine.
I have also been informed that Judge Smyth reported in September 2010 and recommended that it would not be in the public benefit, as envisaged in the Terms of Reference, to undertake a further investigation at that time.
I recently met with the group on whose behalf the Deputy has asked this question and it is my intention to go back to them to discuss options for addressing the issues they raised. However I’m sure the Deputy will appreciate that the opening of a further investigation into these matters would, in the first instance, need to be agreed by the Minister for Health.