John Harbison (pathologist)

He worked at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children and held positions in hospitals in Bristol and Oxford before becoming an assistant pathologist in TCD.^[5] He was a lecturer in medical jurisprudence in TCD and became the second state pathologist in 1974, succeeding Maurice Hickey.^[2][3][5]

He worked on cases including the Kerry babies, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, Stardust, Brian Murphy and Grangegorman,^[2] carrying out around 100 post mortems a year.^[2][3][4][6] In 1991 he was appointed Professor of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the Royal College of Surgeons.^[2] He ceased performing post mortems in 2003, at the age of 67.^[2][3][4][7] In 2006 health issues prevented him from giving testimony in court cases.^[8]

He was succeeded as State Pathologist by Professor Marie Cassidy.^[2][3]

Harbison was married to Kathleen Harbison in 1979, and they had two children and two grandchildren.^[2][5] He and his family used to live at Innisbeg in Howth.^[9][5]

He died on 18 December 2020,^[2][3] just five days before his 85th birthday.^[1] His funeral took place at Glasnevin Crematorium on 21 December 2020.^[10]