Top executive at Tallaght hospital attempts to stop inquiry

A senior executive at Tallaght hospital in Dublin is seeking an injunction stopping an inquiry into complaints against him by an emergency department consultant.

John O’Connell, executive director of human resources who was acting chief executive of the hospital when complaints were first made, says he is being denied fair procedures by the reopening of a complaint from Dr Jean O’Sullivan.

The hospital is opposing the application to injunct the inquiry pending full hearing of his case, the High Court heard.

Balanced assessment

Mr O’Connell has claimed the intervention of the Minister for Health in 2014 prompted the hospital to investigate the complaints rather than make the kind of balanced assessment he was entitled to expect.

Dr O’Sullivan, who first complained about the level of patient care in 2011, wrote to the Minister in late 2014 claiming victimisation because she was a “whistleblower”.

Mr O’Connell says the inquiry is contrary to an agreement they could not continue because they were at least 4½ years old.