Gardaí are investigating new allegations by a number of women against a man who posed as a doctor and put his then fiancée's life at risk by pretending to treat her for a serious illness.
Michael Ward from Clash Road, Little Island in Cork, who recklessly endangered the life of his 38-year-old fiancée, was sentenced to six years in prison at the Central Criminal Court today.
Ward, 32, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty last week after his victim testified in court.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton said he was not impressed by the fact that Ward put his victim in a situation where she had to prove what he already knew had happened to her.
He also commended the courage of the woman who asked that Ward be named and identified to ensure that nothing like this happens to someone's daughter or sister.
In the words of the woman, Ward deceived, manipulated and betrayed her when he pretended he was a doctor.
But he also put her life in danger when he took over the clinical management of her illness.
She was advised by the Wel Woman Clinic to go to hospital but Ward told her 'they haven't a clue' and he, without any medical qualifications, prescribed her antibiotics and dosed her with compounds.
He carried out procedures on her in their Dublin flat where she had to lie still for three hours on the floor while he claimed to anaesthetise her, give her injections and treat her.
He subsequently said she was cured, but within weeks she was diagnosed with a tumour that had to be removed within a week.
The tumour carried a substantial risk of death and the delay in her treatment caused her serious harm. She remains gravely ill.
Mr Justice Charleton said this was a very serious case of reckless endangerment and he sentenced Ward to six years in prison but suspended the last year.
Since the case began, a number of other women have come forward and made similar allegations against him to the gardaí.
