Jailed pervert police doctor faces new sex assault probe
officers and recruits.
The pervert, who has been struck off the medical register, has not been accused of assaulting patients he treated as a GP.
O’Neill first came under suspicion in 1993 when four policewomen claimed he had acted inappropriately during medical examinations.
An internal inquiry was launched but was abandoned a few weeks later. There was no formal police investigation.
Senior officers apologised to him for any “distress” the inquiry had caused – and the doctor went on staff, including new offending. In 2002, further sex assault allegations were made against O’Neill and he was later sacked as force medical adviser.
Earlier this year, a senior lawyer from the Crown Prosecution Service investigated the actions of senior officers who failed to launch an investigation in 1993.
She decided there was insufficient evidence for them to be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice or misconduct in a public office.
The latest revelation about O’Neill emerged after an investigation by the Eastern Daily Press. Legal action by a total of 33 victims resulted in payouts totalling £270,000, the newspaper said.
Norfolk’s Chief Constable Simon Bailey said the way forces respond to allegations of sexual assault had “changed considerably” since 1993.
Last year Mr Bailey commissioned Essex Police to conduct a review into the force’s handling of allegations in 1993 and 2002.
“The report found some failings in both previous investigations, which is a matter of great regret,” said Mr Bailey.
“However, it is important to recognise the way the police service and society responds to allegations of this nature has changed considerably since these original inquiries took place.”
Those officers involved in the investigations have now retired.