Dunlop scan results delay proves costly for tribunal

Mahon tribunal:Delays in the conveying of lobbyist Frank Dunlop's MRI scan "down a few corridors from one part of the Mater hospital to another" was a "significant cost issue" for the Mahon tribunal, its chairman said yesterday.

Judge Alan Mahon said it was amazing that Mr Dunlop's scan, taken on December 3rd, had not been delivered from one section of the Mater hospital to his neurologist, whose office is in another part of the building.

Mr Dunlop, who last appeared at the tribunal on November 6th, was to resume giving evidence in relation to the Quarryvale II module yesterday.

Counsel for the tribunal, Patricia Dillon SC, said the tribunal was initially told that Mr Dunlop was receiving treatment in the Mater hospital.

On November 23rd, the tribunal was informed that Mr Dunlop was to have an MRI scan and, depending on the results, would be able to resume giving evidence.

"The position now is that, notwithstanding the MRI scan having been taken in the Mater hospital last Monday, the MRI scan or its results have not been conveyed to Mr Dunlop's consultant neurologist," Ms Dillon said.

She said she did not know why it had not been possible to transfer the MRI scan "from the imaging centre to Mr Dunlop's neurologist".

Judge Mahon asked counsel for Mr Dunlop, Aidan Redmond BL, why it had not been possible to physically transfer the scan result within the same building, a week after it was taken.

Mr Redmond said Mr Dunlop had followed up the results on an "almost daily basis".

"It doesn't appear to be open to anybody else to physically go and collect the scan results to convey them . . . ," he said.

Judge Mahon responded that the issue was "becoming a very serious practical problem for the tribunal" because a number of witnesses were anxious that Mr Dunlop should conclude his evidence before they were called to give evidence.

"Perhaps you might convey to whoever is in charge of these things in the Mater hospital that the tribunal is especially concerned at the delay in having this test checked out because it's a significant costs issue," Judge Mahon said.

The tribunal had already written to Mr Dunlop's consultant, asking him to "expedite the reading of the scan", he added.

Mr Dunlop was listed to resume evidence tomorrow , "subject to whatever has happened in the meantime", Judge Mahon said.