The widow of a 66-year-old Armagh man who died as a result of a doctor's negligence at a private hospital in London said her family endured a "tortuous purgatory" as they struggled to find out how he died.
James hughes, a retired builder and father-of-six, died at the Clementine Churchill hospital in harrow, north west London, on February 14 2010 after falling unexpectedly ill following knee surgery.
Surgeon David Sellu (66), was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter yesterday over Mr hughes's death.
Mr hughes's wife, Ann, described the suffering experienced by her family in a victim impact statement put before the court.
"For three years we have struggled to discover and then accept the truth of what happened to Jim," she wrote.
"The world does not stand still but for us we have been subjected to a tortuous purgatory that can only be brought to an end by truth and justice.
"Our trust in normal processes, authorities and structures of society was shattered by the inexplicable, callous and deceitful actions of the medical profession entrusted with the most basic responsibility to protect human life."
Mr Hughes, a retired builder, had a planned left knee replacement on February 5 2010.
The operation went well but while recovering from surgery he developed abdominal pain and was transferred to the care of Sellu, who has been a doctor for four decades.
Sellu suspected that there had been a rupture in Mr Hughes' bowel - a potentially life-threatening condition that requires surgery - but he ignored the urgency that the case demanded and the patient later died.
Frances Hughes, one of the victim's daughters, said outside court: "As a family we are grateful that a light has now been shone on the truth. We hope now it is less likely another person will suffer like he did."
Sentencing Sellu at the Old Bailey in London, Mr Justice Nicol told him he "was simply far too laid back for someone with a suspected perforated bowel". He told Sellu that "several failures" in his care meant his "culpability is high" and "that negligence contributed significantly to the death of Mr Hughes".
Sellu, a general surgeon with a specialism in colorectal surgery, ordered a CT scan for the next day rather than operate immediately on the suspected rupture to Mr hughes's bowel.
The scan confirmed the medic's suspicions but he failed to carry out the surgery immediately and instead carried on with his own clinic.
Mr hughes was eventually sent to the operating theatre at 9pm on February 12 but his condition had deteriorated so badly that intensive care specialists had to stabilise him before Sellu could operate on his bowel.
Sellu, who gave no reaction as he was jailed, was told he will serve half his sentence in custody.