Organs group requests return of files

A group calling for a statutory investigation into the retention of organs by hospitals has formally requested the return of documentation provided by its members to the existing inquiry.

The move follows the decision by Parents for Justice to withdraw from the non-statutory inquiry being conducted by Ms Anne Dunne SC, in protest at the failure of some hospitals to co-operate.

Yesterday, the founding members of the group presented 50 withdrawal notices to the inquiry offices in Dublin, and said letters from the rest of the membership would follow over the coming weeks.

The group also criticised the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, for cancelling at short notice a meeting they were due to have with him yesterday to discuss the state of the investigation.

Spokeswoman Ms Fionnuala O'Reilly said they were "very aggrieved" that Mr Martin did not consider their meeting urgent.

But a Department of Health spokesman said the meeting had simply been rescheduled. It is understood Mr Martin wants to discuss the situation with Ms Dunne before meeting the parents group again.

The Department spokesman also rejected a claim that in posting Ms Dunne's progress report on the departmental web site last week, the Minister had reneged on an agreement that the Parents for Justice would be the first to see it.