Whistleblower (Irish TV series)

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Whistleblower
250px
Louise, as portrayed by Emma Stansfield
Genre Thriller
Written by Rob Heyland
Directed by Dermot Boyd
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Composer(s) Ray Harman
Country of origin Republic of Ireland
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 2
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Kathryn Lennon
  • Lesley McKimm
Producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Siobhan Bourke
  • Peter Norris
Cinematography Ciarán Tanham
Editor(s) Ray Roantree
Running time 90 minutes
Production company(s) Saffron Pictures
Release
Original network RTÉ One
Picture format 16:9 (576i)
Audio format Stereo
Original release 31 August (2008-08-31) –
1 September 2008 (2008-09-01)
External links
Website

Whistleblower is a two-part Irish television IFTA-winning fact-based drama, broadcast on RTÉ One for two consecutive nights in 2008, which focuses on the Michael Neary scandal that first erupted in the 1990s.[1] Neary, a retired Irish consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, 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.

Whistleblower follows the obstacles encountered by a midwife Louise (Emma Stansfield) as she blows the whistle on Neary (Stanley Townsend)'s irregular obstetric practices. The series was written by Rob Heyland,[2] directed by Dermot Boyd,[3] produced by Siobhán Bourke[4] and Peter Norris and researched by Sheila Ahern. The first episode, broadcast at 21:30 on 31 August 2008, drew in a third of the available audience across all platforms.[5]

Production

The series was based upon the activities of Dr. Michael Neary, a former consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, who was considered to have performed 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 five or six of these operations in their entire career.[5]

Reception

The series' broadcast 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.[6]

RTÉ were also criticised for airing the series too soon after the conclusion of Neary inquiry, and for making the in-depth script too "upsetting for" all those involved. The commissioning editor of drama with the national broadcaster, Jane Gogan, attempted to justify the broadcast, commenting that; "RTÉ 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".[7]

Cast

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Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Airdate
1 "Episode 1" Dermot Boyd Rob Heyland 31 August 2008 (2008-08-31)
Midwife Louise discovers a high number of hysterectomies being carried out at the hospital where she works by renowned surgeon Dr. Michael Neary, and subsequently decides upon reporting her suspicions.
2 "Episode 2" Dermot Boyd Rob Heyland 1 September 2008 (2008-09-01)
The aftermath of the revelations continues as Louise receives threatening notes and phone calls. As more cases come to light, one victim of malpractice takes her case against Dr. Neary to the High Court.

Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2009 Whistleblower Best Single or Serial Drama Won

References

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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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