>> From: Marie O'Connor <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Press release as before
>> Date: 05 November 1999 13:30
>>
>> Friday 5 November
>> For immediate release
>> MIDWIFE INQUIRY COSTS BOARD 300,000
>>
>>
>> The An Bord Altranais inquiry against independent midwife, Ann O
>Ceallaigh,
>> re-opens on Monday 8 November at the King's Inns, Dublin, for a final
>> two-day hearing. The case against the home birth midwife, which has made
>> legal history both in Ireland and in the UK has already cost Irish nurses
>> almost 300,000 pounds. The final bill is expected to be over a million.
>>
>> In the Supreme Court on Friday (today), the Chief Justice, Mr Liam
>> Hamilton, said that the midwife's case was very urgent, and that he would
>> place it at the top of the list on 3 December for a hearing date. Ms O
>> Ceallaigh is seeking to quash the outstanding complaints by the Nursing
>> Board against her, and the Board is appealing the lifting of the
>injunction
>> against her by Mr Justice Frederick Morris in the High Court on 17 May.
>>
>> In a written reply to a parliamentary question from Mr Ruairi Quinn, TD,
>the
>> Chief Executive of the Nursing Board, Mr Eugene Donoghue, stated that the
>> Board had spent over 150,000 pounds in '97, and 140,000 in '98, on legal
>> fees. As the Fitness to Practice enquiry only began in February of this
>> year, the case is expected to cost the Board in excess of half a million
>for
>> this year alone. All legal costs are being paid for out of nursing and
>> midwifery subscriptions. Figures for 1999 have not yet been released by
>the
>> Board.
>>
>> One midwife, who did not want to be named, said that it was outrageous
>that
>> midwives and nurses were being asked to pay the costs of an enquiry which
>> seemed to have taken on a life of its own, and appeared to be outside
>the
>> Board's control. How could the Board make a decision on her case, she
>> asked, since they had never discussed it.
>>
>> Lifting the original injunction against Ann O Ceallaigh on May 17 last,
>Mr
>> Justice Frederick Morris strongly advised Nursing Board 'not to rest on
>its
>> oars'. Urging the Board to reconsider the evidence in her case, he said
>> that, in his view, the Board's information was 'manifestly out of date'.
>> To date, a total of 17 High Court orders have been made in the case,
>which
>> has been running for three years. The Supreme Court case is expected to
>be
>> heard early next year.
>>
>>
>> For further details, please contact:
>Monica O'Connor or Gerry Brophy
>PRO Ann
>Kelly Support Group
>Home Birth Association of Ireland 01-4514078
>0405-57795 087-6828
>415
>[log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|