Alcoholic surgeon cleared by Sheriff

An alcoholic surgeon was yesterday cleared of causing the deaths of two elderly patients who died following operations he performed.

In a ruling into the deaths, Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson found surgeon Gerald Davies, 49, could not be held responsible for the deaths of Lothian patients Willie Callachan, 69, of Bridgend, and 56-year-old Ann Halloran, of Livingston. Both died after undergoing bowel operations carried out by Mr Davies at St John's Hospital, Livingston.