By Sinead Flanagan
editor@meathpost.com

With the latest TV documentary on disgraced obstetrician Michael Neary, one local woman tells us how her life turned to hell after a few hours on his operating table.
Having removed her womb and ovaries unnecessarily 16 years ago, Marie Raeburn who turned 40 the day before she entered Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, now finds herself with no redress.
Under the guidelines of Judge Maureen Hardy-Clarke, the terms of the Neary inquiry stipulate that anyone who was over 40 when they were wronged by the then doctor are not entitled to any hearing on it.
Still at a loss as to why it happened and without any apology, the Meath Post called to Michael Neary last Sunday. With blinds pulled and curtains fully drawn, it appears he has chosen to run from the media, and from the women whose lives he changed in epic proportions due to the decisions he made in theatre.
Having had a hysterectomy and her ovaries removed unnecessarily by former obstetrician Michael Neary in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda 16 years ago, Marie Reaburn has had to face more than most in life.
Plunged into the menopause having just turned 40, life for the mum of two was to be significantly different for the woman who entered the hospital with just a fibroid. From here, the Ardee woman was to experience horrific migraines, sleepless nights, ferocious hot flushes and more as a result. In fact, this was just the tip of the iceberg. After the operation, the then Dr Neary said to Marie: “You’re going to have a hairy year” and indeed, he wasn’t wrong.
What is more, Marie only discovered that her fibroid could have been removed without the removal of anything else. “I assumed when the story broke about him ten years ago that it must have been right when he removed my ovaries and my womb.”
Marie had given birth to two children with no complications some years previous to her operation on February 6 1992.
However, when she requested her file from the hospital and had another professor examine it, she was to discover that the pain and anguish she had suffered was completely unnecessary. “I made an appointment and went up to see him (Prof. Bonnar in Dublin) on the 17th July last year and was absolutely convinced it was fine. I was thinking about doing shopping…and when he told me the news I tell you something, if you could imagine someone gives you such a blow and you’re totally speechless. It was such a bolt from the blue. I was devastated and from there on I’ve just been trying to come to terms with it.”
Initially after the operation, (Marie had pleaded with Neary prior to it not to remove her ovaries) she was thrown straight into menopause. Telling Marie she had “Endometriosis” Neary refused to give her HRT as he said it would stimulate the problem.
For 12 months following this she battled with menopause and at the end of this time, Neary then prescribed her high doses of HRT and told her “you’ll be on that for life.”
Perplexed by the situation, Marie asked Neary what would have happened if he hadn’t removed her womb and ovaries to which she says he replied “ ‘I saved your life and had you not come to me, the maggots would have you now’. I will never forget it.”
Marie is now working with local solicitor, Hugh Thornton of Thornton & Co Solicitors, Kells to make a case for redress.
Hugh who represents at least seven women who were just over 40 when they were treated by Neary remarks: “Instead of acknowledging the great hurt experienced by many of the women, and applying a standard of compassion appropriate to their individual cases, the Government decided to impose an arbitrary convention irrespective of the great harm experienced by those over 40. Those under 40 get compensation and those over 40, like Marie Raeburn who is just three days over the age, get ignored.”
Having called to Michael Neary’s house in Monasterboice last Sunday for comment, his car parked outside, there was no answer at the door. Blinds fully drawn, it is clear that the man at the centre of the scandal has no plans in the near future to unveil the shroud of mystery that surrounds his past.