Dr John Murphy has resigned his position as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, following a recent Medical Council finding of professional misconduct.
Dr Murphy was one of three consultants who cleared Michael Neary of any wrong-doing in 1998 after reviewing nine cases of caesarean hysterectomies carried out at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
In a statement, Dr Murphy said: 'I have always endeavoured to act with honesty and integrity in my own professional life as an obstetrician and gynaecologist.
'Nevertheless, I now believe that I cannot allow the recent findings of the Medical Council against me to compromise in any way the reputation of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland', he added.
Earlier this month, the Irish Medical Council decided to accept the findings by its Fitness To Practise Committee of professional misconduct against Dr Murphy, Dr Bernard Stuart and Professor Walter Prendiville.
It followed an examination by the committee of the doctors' actions as outlined in the report by Judge Maureen Harding Clarke of the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry.
