A senior nurse, giving evidence in the trial of a doctor accused of sexually assaulting two women, said it was the first time in her 18-year career that an anaesthetist had performed a vaginal examination on patients.
He told her he had performed such an operation on one of the women because she had a history of irritable bowel syndrome and a problem with her ovaries.
When she asked him why he had not used gloves, he said he was from a poor country and was unused to it.
It was the third day of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of a doctor (35) accused of sexually assaulting two female patients at the Mater Hospital on July 28th, 1997.
The women, who claim the doctor repeatedly put his hand in their vaginas and felt their breasts, were in hospital to have their tonsils removed.
Ms Caitriona Hayden, night superintendent at the Mater, told Mr Paul McDermott, prosecuting, that she was called to a ward because a patient was upset after an examination.
Asked if there was a procedure in the hospital for such an event, she said there had never been a situation like that in the hospital.
She met the man's first alleged victim in a common room. The woman was extremely upset and reluctant to speak. She had a tissue rolled around her finger and was crying profusely.
After some time the woman said that the doctor had given her two vaginal examinations without wearing gloves. He had also given her a breast examination and had touched her nipple.
The woman said he had tried to kiss her on the cheek and she had said: "No, that's enough." He had said she was a beautiful girl.
She was very adamant that she did not want to talk to the doctor. Nurse Hayden said she then left the room to talk to the doctor.
She asked him to explain what had happened, and he replied that he had had to examine the patient because he was to administer an anaesthetic in the morning.
He also said that the woman had a history of irritable bowel syndrome and an ovary problem and he therefore had to perform vaginal examinations.
Asked if he had used gloves, he replied that he was from a poor country and was not used to wearing gloves.
He offered to speak to the patient, but the woman was very adamant that she did not want to speak to him, Nurse Hayden said.
The woman's mother and sister agreed to speak to him. They appeared to be very annoyed.
The woman's mother told the doctor that she had given birth to 10 children but had never been given a vaginal examination.
She accused him of not having even looked at her daughter's tonsils. She was upset and wanted the Garda to be contacted.
When the woman's sister asked why he did not wear gloves, the doctor responded that he was not aware of hospital protocol.
Asked by Judge Kieran O'Connor if a ward nurse would have the authority or courage to challenge a doctor who was performing an intimate examination of a patient, she replied that the nurse could contact a night superintendent on a bleeper.
The superintendent could verify the person was a doctor and would ask a nurse why she was suspicious.
Earlier a sister of the doctor's first alleged victim said she saw her run from a hospital ward in tears after being examined.
Her sister ran past her and tried to get out of the hospital. She was shaking vigorously and appeared to be in shock.
The witness told Mr McDermott that after she was persuaded to go into a hospital common room, her sister was still very upset and said: "I thought this could only happen to a child."
The trial continues today.