A hospital medic who has been accused of raping a 61-year-old woman has left the country, the Irish Independent has learned.

Gardaí in Tralee in Co Kerry have confirmed they are investigating the allegation that the woman was raped at the private Bon Secours Hospital earlier this month.

The medic is accused of raping the woman when she was changing into her clothes after having a scan.

The suspect, who is from abroad, was employed by a diagnostic company which operates inside the hospital.

The alleged rape happened after the woman gave him a tip.

Garda sources said the medic, who was involved in diagnostics, denied the allegation but has left the country since the middle of last week.

Following the allegation, it is understood the man was suspended and he has now resigned.

The married worker was a full-time worker with the diagnostic company at the busy hospital.

In a statement today, the company is contracted to provide certain medical services at the Bon Secours in Tralee, confirmed that suspect was their employee.

The statement confirmed that the alleged incident took place at the hospital in Tralee.

“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.

“There is an ongoing Gardai investigation and the company is co-operating fully with this. As a result, we are unable to comment further."

The victim made an initial complaint before going to Cork University Hospital (CUH) that evening to undergo a specialist medical examination.

She then made a formal complaint to gardaí later in the week.

She is believed to have told gardaí that she gave the doctor a €10 tip and he then followed her into the changing room where he raped her.

Gardaí in Tralee have visited the hospital in question to collect CCTV footage.

There were no cameras in the room where the alleged assault took place, but there were some stationed around the area outside the room.

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 allegation to him.

The Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee was voted Ireland's Private Hospital of the Year in 2014.

It serves a catchment area of more 170,000 people.

It has seen significant expansion in recent years.

Irish Independent