MORE than 40 victims of Richard Neale staged a noisy protest outside the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, last week as a controversial private inquiry met patients for the first time.

The demonstrators, including several in wheelchairs, braved the rain and cold on Thursday to show their opposition to the private inquiry set up by the Government.

They chose the Friarage because it is the place where many trusting patients went under the surgeon's knife, not knowing he had already been struck off in Canada.

Despite mounting complaints about the surgeon, it was not until 2000 that he was stuck off for botching operations and lying to patients.

The demonstration coincided with the inquiry's first informal meeting with former patients of Mr Neale in York. One supporter, wearing a Tony Blair mask, brandished a bucket of whitewash to show their lack of faith in the behind-closed-doors inquiry.

Group founder and chairman Sheila Wright-Hogeland said: "It's a good turn-out, we are delighted. Everyone here has made their own decision that the inquiry on offer is a whitewash."

Many of the women who held placards denouncing the inquiry have never spoken out before.

Linda Wallace, from Northallerton, said her experience since Mr Neale operated on her in 1987 had undermined her faith in the system.

Louise Quarton, from Hovingham, near York, who spent four years in and out of hospital after she was operated on by Mr Neale, said: "I am very, very angry that they won't hold a public inquiry. I can't believe they employed someone in Britain who had been struck off in Canada. It is an absolute scandal."

Mona Hunt, from Nosterfield, near Bedale, who has had five operations to put right the problems caused by Mr Neale, said: "I decided against giving evidence. They are just fobbing everybody off."

But Jonathan Street, spokesman for the inquiry, urged the women to think again about taking part.

"I think it is a missed opportunity for those women who are boycotting this inquiry. We have had a reasonable number of former patients attending. They have been reassured that the inquiry won't pull its punches."

He also denied suggestions that anyone connected with the inquiry had backed the call for a public inquiry.

* To contact the inquiry, ring 0207 972 2400.

Read more about the Richard Neale scandal here.