This article is from page 83 of the 2008-06-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
THE trial of a former Killaloe-based doctor, accused of obtaining more than €80,000 from six cancer pa- tients and their relatives by falsely pretending he could cure the cancer, has been adjourned after an insuffi- cient number of jurors was available to hear the case.
Paschal Carmody (60), of Bally- cuggaran, Killaloe, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges of deception, between September 2001 and Octo- ber 2002.
It is alleged that he defrauded six cancer patients and their relatives of between €100 and €20,000. Ac- cording to the State, he falsely pre- tended the patients’ cancer would be cured by photodynamic therapy.
Senior counsel for the Prosecution Denis Vaughan-Buckley told Ennis Circuit Court, sitting in Kilrush, last Tuesday that the accused practiced at the East Clare Clinic in Killaloe where he treated six cancer patients all of whom subsequently died.
The six were: John James Gallagh- er, Kingswood Manor, Mullingar, County Westmeath; Master Conor O’Sullivan, Granite Lodge, Gorey, County Wexford; Josephine Dur- kan, of Beechgrove, Lucan, County Dublin; John Sheridan, of 21A Bur- gess Court, Kells, County Kilkenny; Mary O’Connor, from Mill Street, Cork, but who had lived in London and Karen Kurvink from Holland.
Mr Vaughan-Buckley told Judge Rory McCabe that there are 95 wit- nesses in the book of evidence in- cluding relatives of the deceased, medical witnesses from Ireland and the UK and several gardai.
The trial is expected to last for four weeks.
Prior to any jurors being sworn in, senior counsel for the Defence Pat Marrinan said that pre-trial publicity in the case could not be ignored.
“There were a number of pro- grammes broadcast on RTE televi- sion and also on radio programmes and some newspaper coverage in or about 2004/2005. Some of the wit- nesses involved in this case gave interviews,’ he said and asked the judge to give a special warning to the jury regarding this.
“If they have seen or heard any- thing that could influence their judg- ment, they should stand down. Also, he has been practicing as a medical doctor. He had a huge client base. Pa- tients and relatives of patients should also declare their interest. It’s impor- tant that people going to try the case aren’t contaminated by what they know about Dr Carmody,” said Mr Marrinan.
However, Mr Vaughan-Buckley pointed out that those programmes were broadcast a long time ago.
Mr Marrinan replied, “Somewhat of a local issue and a local man would remain in the memory longer than it would fade.”
Judge McCabe told the jury panel to let him know if they had seen or heard any of the publicity, as “‘it might not be proper for you to serve Oy Testo tt aan