A doctor has fled Ireland after he was accused of raping a woman patient in what was voted Ireland’s top private hospital two years ago.

The alleged rape on September 10 was on a 61-year-old woman in the Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Gardai said they are investigating the woman’s report that she was raped while changing into her clothes after having a scan and after she gave the doctor a €10 tip.

The suspect, a married man who is not a native of Ireland, was employed by a diagnostic company which operates inside the hospital.

Garda sources said the medic denied the allegation but left the country within days after being suspended and resigning.

The company that hired the doctor confirmed that the alleged incident took place at the hospital in Tralee. The company added in a statement, “We wish to alleviate the concerns of patients and the public by making clear that the individual involved is no longer an employee of the company and is no longer working at the hospital. 

“A full internal investigation into the alleged incident is being conducted.”

The victim made an initial complaint before going to Cork University Hospital that evening to undergo a specialist medical examination. She then made a formal complaint to Gardai.

Garda sources who arrived at the hospital to interview the doctor following the complaint said he was in the middle of another scan when they put the woman’s allegation to him.