The Eastern Regional Health Authority has warned it will consider legal action to acquire a private hospital in Dublin, after a deal to buy it allegedly fell through.
It says it had intended to complete the purchase of St Joseph's Hospital, Raheny, yesterday but the owners said they were not going ahead with the £10 million sale. The 69-bed hospital would have been used primarily to reduce waiting lists.
In a statement yesterday, the ERHA said it was "astounded at this development given the specific nature of the contractual arrangements entered into by the current owners with the ERHA."
During the 1990s the acute hospital was sold by the Sisters of St Joseph of Cham bery to Dr Abdullah Alanizi, a Saudi Arabian doctor.
"We have only in recent days received draft copies of the information required within the contract to enable us to complete the contact. We are advised that the vendors are legally obliged to complete the contract," it said.
"Should the vendors fail to complete the contract this week the ERHA will consider the legal options available to it."
The differences are believed to concern how creditors would be taken into account in the sale price. The hospital's CEO, Dr Ayad Alanezi, could not be reached for comment.
pomorain@irish-times.ie