A LAST-DITCH bid for a public inquiry into the Richard Neale scandal is to go ahead.

The campaign group which represents 250 victims of the former Northallerton, North Yorkshire surgeon, needed to raise £10,000 to continue its legal fight.

While the amount raised after a public appeal still falls short of that figure, the group's lawyers have agreed to lodge an appeal.

More than £6,000 has been promised by readers of The Northern Echo and supporters after a plea last Saturday. Several people have said they would contribute £1,000 to the fighting fund, and one pensioner has pledging £25 from his savings.

The cash means lawyers will be able to work on an appeal application.

Graham Maloney, advisor to the campaign group, said: "The response has been absolutely fantastic."

The group believes the Department of Health's offer of a private investigation into the Neale scandal is inadequate. Mr Maloney said only a full public inquiry would enable investigators to find out what happened.

More than 250 women complained about Mr Neale during his career, including a decade spent at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, between 1985 and 1995.

Campaigners want to know why the surgeon, who was struck off for botching operations, was given a job and promoted, despite having been struck off in Canada.

Six weeks ago, the group mounted a High Court action to win a judicial review. This would have forced the Department of Health to throw open its investigation to the Press.

But the bid failed, leaving the group with one last chance to approach to the Court of Appeal, which can either ask for more information or turn down the application.

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