West Midlands vet to be struck off

Please note: This is an archived news story. Mr Denis Patrick Cronin MRCVS was removed from the RCVS Register of Members on 17 May 2005 following the hearing. He was restored to the Register on 22 December 2014 following successful application to the Disciplinary Committee and he is therefore currently entitled to practise as a veterinary surgeon in the UK.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has decided that a veterinary surgeon from the West Midlands should be struck off the veterinary Register, having found him guilty of disgraceful professional conduct.

After a five-day hearing that concluded today, Mr Denis Patrick Cronin was found guilty of seven separate charges of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.

These included carrying out euthanasia of a cat in an inappropriate place (his own car) and when consent was in doubt; losing his temper and exercising this on animals; threatening and aggressive behaviour towards complainants and employees; handling and transporting animals inappropriately; and, failing to respond to RCVS correspondence about complaints made against him (and in so doing, significantly protracting the investigation).

Mr Cronin pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the Committee expressed doubts as to the accuracy of Mr Cronin's evidence and found his explanations for his behaviour "bizarre".

The Committee heard that Mr Cronin had a history of depressive illness and at the time of the offences, he claimed to be under considerable financial and personal pressure, and suffering from stress.

However, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Mr Brian Jennings, said, "In view of the seriousness of the individual charges, there can be no other decision but that Mr Cronin should not be allowed to continue in practice at the present time. We feel that the first essential step is for Mr Cronin to seek support and medical advice."