Paschal Carmody acquitted of deception charges

In the case, evidence was given that Dr Carmody – who had 120 cancer patients under his care – denied ever telling Conor O’Sullivan and Mr Sheridan that he would cure their cancer.

Both underwent PDT treatment at Dr Carmody’s East Clinic. Conor O’Sullivan had a rare bone cancer, Ewings sarcoma, while Mr Sheridan had liver cancer. Both died in November 2002.

Conor O’Sullivan’s parents, Christina and Derek O’Sullivan, told the court that Dr Carmody told their son in July 2002 he would cure his cancer or at worst keep him alive. This was denied by Dr Carmody.

“Proper decision”

Outside court, Dr Carmody said Judge Fullam had made “the proper decision based on the evidence”.

Dr Carmody was first interviewed by gardaí on the allegations in 2004 and he said yesterday: “No more than for everyone else, it has been tough going. We have had to face it. These are things in life that you have to do. I have had other challenges before and met them and I have met this challenge and it is over.”

The O’Sullivan and Sheridan families were not in court for yesterday’s verdict. However, last night Ms O’Sullivan said: “We’re disappointed with the outcome but we are glad that it is over and it is put to bed. Now we can move on.”

In the trial of Dr Carmody, the O’Sullivans, in the witness box, recalled the last few months of Conor’s life and his battle with cancer. Ms O’Sullivan said: “It was just horrendous. It brought all those memories back. It was very upsetting.”

In response to the verdict, Dr Carmody’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer said: “By my reading of the comments of Judge Fullam, I would regard the direction of the trial judge with regard to the evidence as a very strong direction making very strong comment in relation to the strength of the evidence or lack thereof as I would see it.

“So I think Dr Carmody has been vindicated in many, many ways by the comments made by the trial judge in relation to the evidence presented to the court.

“It has been a very trying time for Paschal Carmody, his wife, Frieda, and members of their family just as he accepts that it has been a very trying time for all other people connected with this prosecution.