Doctor claimed he could not return to Ireland to face 13 allegations

A fitness-to-practise hearing against a doctor who said he was refused a visa to return to Ireland was adjourned yesterday pending inquiries.

Dr Vincent Osunkwo faces 13 allegations of professional misconduct and or poor professional performance at the inquiry. He was a senior house officer at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise when the incidents occurred in March and April 2009.

Details of the allegations against him were not opened at the inquiry.

Rory Mulcahy, for the Medical Council, said Dr Osunkwo was now living in Nigeria. In a letter to the Medical Council he had said he failed to obtain a visa to return to Ireland and could not face the allegations against him. He was not represented at the hearing and there had been no communication from him since July this year, Mr Mulcahy said.

Emails sent to the doctor after July were delivered, he said, but were not responded to and registered letters were ignored.

Mr Mulcahy told the hearing Portlaoise hospital had removed Dr Osunkwo from clinical duty in March 2009 and he subsequently left the country.