William (Bill) Tormey on Friday was charged with human trafficking and possession of child abuse images.
The 73-year-old, of Glasnevin Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 11, has been a prominent commentator on the health service for decades, as well as being a former Fine Gael politician.
A doctor, he graduated from University College Dublin in 1974. He has three doctorates – a PhD from Trinity College Dublin, an MD from Ulster University and a DMed from the National University of Ireland.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he has worked as a consultant chemical pathologist for 42 years. He previously worked at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
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His social media page also states he is an adjunct associate professor at Trinity College Dublin, as well as being a fellow at Athlone IT, now known as Technological University of the Shannon.
Dr Tormey was a Fine Gael councillor on Dublin City Council between 2004 and 2014, when he lost his seat.
Having contested 13 elections throughout his political career, he made attempts to be elected as a TD and senator on multiple occasions, though was unsuccessful. He had previously run for office for the Labour Party and as an Independent.
An individual who was no stranger to headlines, Dr Tormey in 1997 faced legal action from his former colleague Ms Maria Fitzgibbon, who alleged he said she had committed scientific fraud and had stolen work, referring to her as a “right geebag”.
The action taken by Ms Fitzgibbon, who had worked as a biochemist when Dr Tormey was a consultant pathologist at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, related to comments he allegedly made in 1993. The case was settled in the High Court for undisclosed damages and Dr Tormey issued an apology to her.
He made the headlines once again in 2006. While he was a Fine Gael general election candidate, he questioned the findings of then State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy on the cause of death of Brian Murphy, who died following a high-profile assault outside Club Anabel in Dublin in August 2000. He described Prof Cassidy’s findings as “highly fanciful”.
That same year, the party was forced to distance itself from comments he made on the Late Late Show in which he backed calls for the legalisation of drugs and mandatory HIV testing for people entering Ireland from sub-Saharan Africa, including missionaries.
According to Elvia Press, he has published two books: A Cure for the Crisis – Irish Healthcare in context in 2004 and Ten Years Hard Labour: a personal political odyssey in 1994.
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