By Breaking News - 19.02.2024 - [IRELAND] - [Ronan Keogan]
A GP who received a one-year suspended sentence for possessing and distributing child pornography has had his registration cancelled by the High Court.
Last year, the Dublin doctor Ronan Keogan pleaded guilty before the Circuit Criminal Court to one count of knowingly distributing child pornography at an unknown location within the State on March 26th, 2017. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing three child pornography images at an address in Templeogue, Dublin, on May 15th, 2017.
Dr Keogan of College Square, Terenure, Dublin was sentenced to a one-year suspended sentence in May 2023. The charges related to a text conversation between Keogan and a woman, and to three photographs of two underage girls which appear to have been taken by the girls themselves.
On Monday, the president of the High Court Mr Justice David Barniville confirmed the decision of the Medical Council to cancel the registration of the GP from College Square, Terenure.
Mr Justice Barniville said he was satisfied that the Medical Council decision to cancel the doctors’ registration was reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, and he said he had no hesitation in confirming the order.
Ronan Kennedy SC for the Medical Council told the High Court that the doctor had initially denied the allegations but later pleaded guilty to two counts.
He said the Medical Council towards the end of last year decided that the appropriate sanction was the cancellation of the doctor’s registration, and it had considered issues of public safety and the integrity of the regulatory process.
Counsel said it was also noted the GP had shown very little insight into the matter or shown remorse or understanding in relation to the wrongdoing.
The Medical Council, in 2017 had previously brought the matter before the High Court and Dr Keogan had given undertakings to treat only adults and the matter was adjourned on a number of occasions.
When he was first charged in the District Court, an anonymity order was granted but when he appeared before the Circuit Court, that order was lifted following queries from media organisations.
The Medical Council later re-entered the 2017 suspension application before the High Court, and he was suspended two years ago pending an inquiry by the Fitness to Practise Committee.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm.
Dignity4Patients Commentary: We are happy to see the judges opinion that to cancel the doctors’ registration was reasonable and appropriate. This is absolutely necessary to keep the public safe. Our concerns still are the length of time it takes to remove a perpetrator from the health care service in Ireland. (7 years) All the while the perpetrator gave a word of mouth undertaking to only see adult patients. Dignity4Patients raised concerns about this as he could still have access to 18 year old boys & girls technically classed as adults but who could be vulnerable or innocent and open to abuse by their doctor who is known to have an unhealthy interest in child pornography. All doctors under investigation for sexual crimes should have chaperones at all times or be suspended from service.
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