Whistleblower (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Whistleblower is a two-part IFTA
-winning fact-based RTÉ drama which focuses on the Michael Neary scandal that erupted in the 1990s. Neary is a retired Irish
consultant
obstetrician
/gynecologist
who gained notoriety when it was discovered that he had performed what was considered an inordinate number of caesarian
hysterectomies
during his time at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
in Drogheda
, County Louth
. A subsequent inquiry found that Neary had carried out 188 peripartum
over a period of 25 years, some on very young women of low parity. The average consultant obstetrician carries out 5 or 6 of these operations in their entire career. The airing of the show prompted the support group Patient Focus to renew its call on the Irish Government
for every woman affected by Neary's actions to be included in the Lourdes hospital redress scheme.
Whistleblower highlights the obstacles encountered by a midwife
as she blows the whistle
on Michael Neary's irregular obstetric practices. It was broadcast on RTÉ One
on Sunday 31 August and Monday 1 September 2008 at 21.30. The two-part drama was written by Rob Heyland and directed by Dermot Boyd
. It was produced by Siobhán Bourke and Peter Norris and researched by Sheila Ahern.
Part one focuses on the discovery of the high amount of hysterectomies carried out at the hospital and the subsequent reporting of the midwife's suspicions. Part two focuses on the aftermath of the revelations as threatening notes and phone calls are received whilst, with more cases coming to light, one victim of malpractice takes her case against Dr Neary to the High Court.
RTÉ was criticised for airing the controversial drama too soon after the inquiry and for making it too upsetting for all those involved. The commissioning editor of drama with the national broadcaster, Jane Gogan attempted to justify its airing by saying that "RTE hopes to convey to a wider audience the human cost of the injustices which were exposed and to illustrate the power of the individual in affecting change".
| 2009
|| Whistleblower || Best Drama Single/Serial ||
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Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
-winning fact-based RTÉ drama which focuses on the Michael Neary scandal that erupted in the 1990s. Neary is a retired Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
consultant
Consultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
obstetrician
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
/gynecologist
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
who gained notoriety when it was discovered that he had performed what was considered an inordinate number of caesarian
Caesarean section
A Caesarean section, is a surgical procedure in which one or more incisions are made through a mother's abdomen and uterus to deliver one or more babies, or, rarely, to remove a dead fetus...
hysterectomies
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Hysterectomy may be total or partial...
during his time at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Drogheda)
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is a public hospital located in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, part of the Louth Meath Hospital Group. It is managed by the Irish Government's Health Service Executive and provides acute-care hospital services, including a 24-hour emergency department, for the...
in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
. A subsequent inquiry found that Neary had carried out 188 peripartum
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
over a period of 25 years, some on very young women of low parity. The average consultant obstetrician carries out 5 or 6 of these operations in their entire career. The airing of the show prompted the support group Patient Focus to renew its call on the Irish Government
Government of the 30th Dáil
The 30th Dáil was elected at the 2007 general election on 24 May 2007 and first met on 14 June when President Mary McAleese appointed Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach, on the nomination of Dáil Éireann...
for every woman affected by Neary's actions to be included in the Lourdes hospital redress scheme.
Whistleblower highlights the obstacles encountered by a midwife
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
as she blows the whistle
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
on Michael Neary's irregular obstetric practices. It was broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
on Sunday 31 August and Monday 1 September 2008 at 21.30. The two-part drama was written by Rob Heyland and directed by Dermot Boyd
Dermot Boyd
Dermot Boyd is a Northern Irish-born television director. Programmes he has directed include: The Return, Four Fathers, Feather Boy, Johnny and the Bomb, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Rough Diamond, Whistleblower, Casualty, and Holby City.A further list of production credits can be found at the IMDb...
. It was produced by Siobhán Bourke and Peter Norris and researched by Sheila Ahern.
Part one focuses on the discovery of the high amount of hysterectomies carried out at the hospital and the subsequent reporting of the midwife's suspicions. Part two focuses on the aftermath of the revelations as threatening notes and phone calls are received whilst, with more cases coming to light, one victim of malpractice takes her case against Dr Neary to the High Court.
RTÉ was criticised for airing the controversial drama too soon after the inquiry and for making it too upsetting for all those involved. The commissioning editor of drama with the national broadcaster, Jane Gogan attempted to justify its airing by saying that "RTE hopes to convey to a wider audience the human cost of the injustices which were exposed and to illustrate the power of the individual in affecting change".
Cast
- Emma StansfieldEmma StansfieldEmma Stansfield is a Welsh actress.Born Emma Thompson, her parents Colin and Gill Thompson trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and run an amateur dramatics society in Monmouth, Wales...
as Louise - Charlene McKennaCharlene McKennaCharlene McKenna is an award-winning Irish actress. She became a household name and face in Ireland after starring as Jennifer in the television series Pure Mule in 2005. She has had numerous other roles in television dramas in Ireland, including Raw, Single-Handed 2 and Whistleblower...
as Karen - Adrian DunbarAdrian DunbarAdrian Dunbar is an actor from Northern Ireland, best known for his television and theatre work. Dunbar co-wrote and starred in the 1991 film, Hear My Song, nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the BAFTA awards.-Personal life:...
as Flor Wycherley - Stanley TownsendStanley Townsend-Theatre:Townsend's work in theatre includes: Remember This, Guys and Dolls and Phedre at the National Theatre, London; The Alice Trilogy, Shining City , Under the Blue Sky and The Weir at the Royal Court, London; The Wake, Trinity for Two and Sacred Mysteries at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin; The...
as Dr Michael Neary - Hilda Fay as Josephine
- Patrick Ryan as Sean
- Kathy Rose O'Brien as Marie
- Michael McElhattonMichael McElhattonMichael McElhatton is an Irish actor and writer.-Selected filmography:* A Tiger's Tail* Spin the Bottle* Intermission* The Actors* Blow Dry* Saltwater* Crushproof* I Went Down* Perrier's Bounty-Selected Stage Career:...
as Miller
Awards
|-| 2009
The 6th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards 2009
The 6th Irish Film and Television Awards took place on 14 February 2009 at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin, and was hosted by Ryan Tubridy.-Awards in Film:Film* Hunger ** 32A** A Film with Me in It** The Escapist...
|| Whistleblower || Best Drama Single/Serial ||
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