The doctor who allegedly removed the wombs of a number of women in unnecessary operations during childbirth has been struck off the medical register.
The Irish Medical Council's Fitness to Practise Committee found that Drogheda-based obstetrician Dr Michael Neary committed professional misconduct.
Following a three-year investigation into the allegations against him, the findings were outlined to a full meeting of the Medical Council today.
Dr Neary was found guilty of professional misconduct in relation to complaints from 10 patients.
The council decided Dr Neary should be struck off its register of medical practitioners.
It also requested the Minister for Health and Children to explore what it described as the 'serious issues' surrounding the running of the obstetric unit in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
More than 60 women attended by Dr Neary are to take a case before the High Court later this year. They allege he removed their wombs unnecessarily in an operation known as a caesarian hysterectomy when they gave birth at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
The High Court has found that Dr Neary was negligent in his treatment of Ms Alison Gough, when she gave birth to her only child almost 11 years ago. Dr Neary removed Ms Gough's womb, but the High Court found he could have carried out procedures that would have made this unnecessary.
An appeal by Dr Neary and the hospital against the €273,223 award to Ms Gough was rejected by the Supreme Court, although the court reduced the amount by €50,000.