Doctor who ‘repeated mantra-like claims in court of Garda surveillance' is suspended
Mr Justice David Barniville said he was very concerned about the man's mental health after witnessing him in court.
This included, the judge said, 'repeated, constant and almost mantra-like references' to being under surveillance by the gardaí since around 2010 and repeated references to the woman Garda detective allegedly involved in the surveillance and who, in view of the doctor, was constantly involved in actions intended to damage him.
The judge was satisfied the Medical Council had legitimate and reasonable concerns for the public if the doctor, who qualified in Pakistan and has practised in Ireland for 35 years, was permitted to continue to practice.
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The suspension applies pending the doctor's completion of certain supervisory and medical requirements and pending further court order.
He has rejected all the claims made against him and says there has been a conspiracy against him by his former wife, the detective garda and others.
A psychiatrist assessed him as suffering from a 'relevant medical disability' that was a 'persistent delusional disorder of persecutory type'.
The psychiatrist believed that as the doctor's medical disability had not affected, to date, his fitness to work, he should be allowed to continue to work under conditions including supportive health services.
The doctor has refused to accept the psychiatrist's opinion and was not so far prepared to agree to the conditions, the judge said.
In those circumstances, Mr Justice Barniville granted an order sought by the Medical Council suspending the doctor.
The judge said the case arose after the directors of an out-of-hours general practitioner service, which the doctor worked at for a number of years until October 2024, contacted the Medical Council over his conduct.
Difficulties included his interactions with patients, their carers and, at times, members of staff at the GP service. They referred to 'significant difficulties and challenges' in his life including a separation. He had claimed 'undercover gardaí [were] observing him' from within the service.
Most complaints against him related to his poor manner in consultations, a peremptory approach to those for whom he was caring and an approach that 'intermittently appears clinically inadequate', particularly in relation to gynaecological issues.
It was also alleged his notes were 'scant' and that evidence of reasonable examination was 'very limited'. There were two significant 'near misses' involving him, it was claimed.
The doctor denied all those claims and said the psychiatrist's report should be rejected.
The directors of the GP service did not want to make a complaint, but wanted it brought to the attention of the chief executive of the Medical Council, which itself decided to initiate the complaint processes.
The judge also said the doctor alleged the garda detective was trying to prevent the Central Office of the High Court from issuing the proceedings he wanted to bring alleging the garda did various other things to damage him.
The judge said it would not be appropriate for him on a suspension application to resolve conflicts of evidence or to make findings of fact. However, the doctor's refusal to accept there may be a problem and that his registration should be subject to conditions was sufficient to persuade the judge to make the suspension order, pending further court order.
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But the truth is: your body is not a 'before'. It's not a problem to be solved. It's your home and it's worthy of joy, sunshine, colour, and life,' O'Reilly says. Model Louise O'Reilly For those who are still struggling with the idea of becoming more visible, O'Reilly recommends starting small. 'Add a pop of colour. Try on that swimsuit just for you in your bedroom mirror, not for the world, but for yourself,' she says. 'You don't have to feel 100 per cent confident to show up, you just have to be brave for a few seconds longer than the fear lasts. Because when you do, you realise: the world doesn't fall apart when you take up space. It actually opens up. And the water? It doesn't care what size you are – it just wants you to feel free.' As a new mother, O'Reilly is very aware how often mothers are taught to feel ashamed of their bodies after childbirth, despite it doing something so powerful and awe-inspiring. 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While body image conversations have traditionally centred on women, there is growing recognition that harmful ideals – such as the expectation for men to be lean, muscular, and emotionally stoic – can lead to disordered eating, steroid misuse, and body dysmorphia. Queer men may feel this pressure even more acutely, navigating dating cultures and social spaces where desirability often hinges on achieving a narrow, hyper-fit aesthetic. For LGBTQIA+ people more broadly, body image issues are often shaped by additional layers of fear, trauma or exclusion. Trans and non-binary people, for example, may face heightened anxiety around visibility during the summer – when swimwear, heat and social events can all intensify feelings of gender dysphoria. Even for those who feel comfortable and confident or have undergone gender-affirming care and experience deep joy and empowerment in their bodies – often described as trans euphoria – there remains the constant need to assess safety in public and social spaces. The decision of how much of themselves to show is not just about comfort, but survival. In a world where visibility can invite both celebration and risk, queer, trans, and non-binary bodies often carry an added emotional weight – making body image not only a personal issue, but a deeply political one. In Ireland, these intersections are just beginning to be explored in mainstream conversations about body image, but the ripple is growing. For people just beginning to undo decades of culturally-embedded body image issues, Coyne urges people to start small, noting that many people are intimated by the idea of 'body positivity'. 'There's often a misconception that body positivity means you must love every inch of your body every single day, and that's unrealistic,' Coyne says. For many people, especially those who've experienced trauma or long-term body dissatisfaction, that's a hard ask.' She advocates for what's known as body neutrality, explaining 'it's not about love or enthusiasm – it's about neutrality. It's saying, 'This is my body. It's not perfect, but it's mine, and it does incredible things for me every day'. It's about saying, 'I don't have to love how I look today, but I can still treat my body with respect'. That's enough.' Your body, this incredible vessel that carries you through the world, deserves to be appreciated for what it does every single day As for those of us who will be spending time this summer in front of the mirror, worrying about how we'll look on a beach or in a photo, the path forward doesn't have to be dramatic. 'Start small,' says Rath. 'I'm not going to tell you to just strip off and wear a bikini tomorrow. That's not realistic. But maybe you start with a mantra in the morning. Something gentle. 'I am grateful for my body today.' Say it during meditation. Let it build over time. And when you're ready, try wearing something you want to wear – a crop top under a T-shirt, maybe. Then one day, take the T-shirt off. At your pace. On your terms.' Summer in Ireland may never be about bare sunbathing or Instagram-perfect bodies. There will always be the quick cover-ups, the holding of towels, the glances in car mirrors before stepping on to the beach. But change is happening, quietly and steadily. It's the friends who laugh together on the beach, not noticing each other's bodies but their laughter. It is the teenager who posts a no-filter selfie in shorts. It is the mother, salt-haired and sun-speckled, who no longer thinks about her thighs, but about how her body feels after a swim. For Coyne, the heart of the issue lies in re-aligning our sense of worth. 'We've been culturally conditioned to believe that beauty is external, and that it's the most important thing. But real beauty comes from values – kindness, courage, humour, empathy. That's why people love you. That's why you're important to them. And your body, this incredible vessel that carries you through the world, deserves to be appreciated for what it does every single day. That's a truth I want everyone to hold on to.' Perhaps that is the most Irish of all summer body rules: not to transform or perform, but simply to be here – soft skin in the sun, salt on the lips, bare legs in warm air, and the quiet strength of self-compassion guiding us forward. If you or someone you know is struggling with body image or disordered eating, support is available through Bodywhys Ireland ( ) or your GP.
