A LONDON coroner yesterday said he was referring to the Director of Public Prosecutions the case of an Irishman who survived the IRA Aldwych bus bomb, but died eight months later following treatment at a private clinic for his heroin addiction.
Dr Paul Knapman, the West minister coroner, adjourned the inquest on Mr Brendan Joseph Woolhead after two experts said he died as a result of the treatment at the Wellbeck Hospital, Mary Lebone.
Announcing the decision at Westminster Coroner's Court, Dr Knapman said evidence had developed rather differently from what he was expecting and "we are approaching, the possibility of criminal matters.
Evidence would be submitted to the DPP or the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether charges should be laid, Dr Knapman told the jury.
They had heard that Mr Woolhead (34), of Windmill Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin, a drug addict, received serious injuries when travelling on the double decker bus in central London in February of last year. An IRA bomb accidentally exploded.
The allegation of negligent treatment came from an expert called by Mr Woolhead's family Prof Griffith Edwards, of the Maudsley Hospital, London. Prof Edwards said: "My view is that this man died as a result of the grossly negligent treatment given by the Wellbeck Hospital."
A second expert from the Maudsley Hospital, Prof Robert Kerwin, said he was certain Mr Woolhead died as a result of the "reckless" way the treatment had been administered.
Dr Gary Gerson, consultant an aesthetist at the Wellbeck, said he was not told that Mr Woolhead had suffered recent severe head injuries.
Dr Knapman adjourned the case for a nominal 14 days, but told jurors it was unlikely there would be any further developments for up to two months.