Irishhealth.com
February 19, 2001

High Court threat to Woods inquiry

A number of families involved in an unprecedented Medical Council inquiry into allegations that a prominent doctor made false claims of child sex abuse may go to the High Court to halt the inquiry, it has emerged.

In a submission to the Medical Council, the families have argued that evidence regarding the state of understanding in the mid to late 80s of procedures to deal with child sexual abuse has not been brought to the attention of the inquiry.

The submission warns that should this not be corrected 'we will have no other option but to refer the matter to the High Court seeking orders for judicial review proceedings or an injunction' to stop the inquiry concluding.

The inquiry, which began in October 1999, is into claims that Dr Moira Woods, the former head of the Sexual Assault Unit at the Rotunda Hospital made allegations in the 1980s that a number of children had been sexually abused when she knew or ought to have know there was insufficient foundation for these claims.

Dr Woods strongly denies the claims and denies that she is guilty of any professional misconduct. The first child abuse guidelines were issued by the Department of Health in 1987 after the cases in this controversy came to light.

The inquiry is due to end in March. It is being heard in private before the Council's Fitness to Practise Committee. It has the power to exonerate Dr Woods or find her guilty of misconduct