Barry O’Donnell was appointed as an expert in the hospital inquiry on September 2, 2020. In November 2022, he took on the role of head of the forensic accounting group at Harbinson Mulholland, a prominent accounting and auditing firm.
Barry O’Donnell
The clarity of Mr. O’Donnell’s contributions to the inquiry is under scrutiny. Invoices from Harbinson Forensics Ltd, managed by Jeremy Harbinson, were submitted to the Court to account for expert work. Within these documents, O’Donnell’s name was listed 28 times, all recorded from February 2023 onwards within a single year. His total reported work amounted to 30 hours and 18 minutes, with 71.4% of the invoices (20 out of 28) indicating he contributed an hour or less. In 11 instances, his reported work was 30 minutes or less, with one report claiming a contribution of only 12 minutes.
Despite the detailed precision of these records, Jeremy Harbinson’s affidavit stated they were purely commercial. However, no explanation was provided for what O’Donnell could achieve in merely 12 minutes, casting doubt on his appointment’s justification. It raises questions about the tangible impact he could have on such a complex case that required significant expertise.
Jeremy Harbinson
According to the Council of Europe, a Court expert is expected to apply his scientific and technical knowledge to determine facts under investigation. From Harbinson’s reports, it seems O’Donnell’s limited recorded time could not have fulfilled this role adequately. This invites ridicule and concern over the Maltese Court’s processes, as no inquiry demanded an explanation for the obvious inconsistencies.
