John Harbison (pathologist)

Professor John Harbison (23 December 1935 – 18 December 2020)[1] was the first State Pathologist of Ireland.[2][3][4]

Professor John Harbison
Born(1935-12-23)December 23, 1935
Howth, Ireland
Died(2020-12-18)December 18, 2020
NationalityIrish
EducationTrinity College Dublin
Known forfirst State Pathologist for Ireland
Medical career
Professionpathologist, academic
Sub-specialtiesforensic pathology

Early life and education

He was born in the Howth area, educated in Howth, St Gerard's School, Bray, Stonyhurst College and graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1960.[2][5] He had at least one brother and his father was a doctor, who had held roles as county and city medical officer.[2] His brother Peter is an archaologist.[5]

Career

He worked at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children and held positions in hospitals in Bristol and Oxford before becoming an assistant pathologist in TCD.[5] He was a lecturer in medical jurisprudence in TCD and became the first state pathologist in 1974.[2][3][5]

He worked on cases including the Kerry babies, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, Brian Murphy and Grangegorman,[2] carrying out around 100 post mortems a year.[2][3][4][6] In 1991 he was appointed Professor of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the Royal College of Surgeons.[2] He ceased performing post mortems in 2003, at the age of 67.[2][3][4][7] In 2006 health issues prevented him from giving testimony in court cases.[8]

He was succeeded as State Pathologist by Professor Marie Cassidy.[2][3]

Personal life

Harbison was married to Kathleen Harbison in 1979, and they had two children and two grandchildren.[2][5] He and his family used to live at Innisbeg in Howth.[9][5]

He died on 18 December 2020,[2][3] just five days before his 85th birthday.[1] His funeral took place at Glasnevin Crematorium on 21 December 2020.[10]

References
  1. "John Harbison obituary: The Irish State's first forensic state pathologist". The Irish Times. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. "Former State pathologist Prof John Harbison dies". The Irish Times. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  3. Daly, Adam (19 December 2020). "Former State pathologist John Harbison dies". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  4. "Former State pathologist Prof John Harbison dies". RTÉ News. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  5. "Obituary: Dr John Harbison". Sunday Independent. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  6. O'Halloran, Georgina (10 September 2007). "Jury returns verdict of unlawful killing". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  7. Humphries, Joe (10 February 2003). "Harbison retires as State pathologist". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  8. Reilly, Jerome (26 March 2006). "Harbison too ill to testify in court cases". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  9. Keenan, Mark (1 April 2016). "Former State Pathologist's Howth home on the market for €1.25m". Irish Independent. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  10. Keenan, Mark (21 December 2020). "Fond farewell for former State pathologist John Harbison". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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