Marie Therese Jane Cassidy (born 1955) is a

pathologist Pathology is the study of the causal, causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when us ...

and academic. From 2004 to 2018 she was State Pathologist of

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, the first woman to hold the position. She is Professor of Forensic Medicine at the

Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is a medical professional and educational institution, which is also known as RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ireland's first private university. It was established in 1784 ...

and

Trinity College, Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...

Early life and education

Marie Cassidy was born in

Rutherglen Rutherglen (, sco, Ruglen, gd, An Ruadh-Ghleann) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, immediately south-east of the city of Glasgow, from its centre and directly south of the River Clyde. Having existed as a Lanarkshire burgh in its own ...

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, Scotland, in 1955. She is the granddaughter of emigrants from

Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Ulster * Donegal (town), a town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland * Donegal Bay, an inlet in the northwest of Ireland b ...

. She lives in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and is married with two children. Cassidy studied medicine at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

, graduating in January 1978.

Career

She became a member of the

Royal College of Pathologists The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) is a professional membership organisation. Its main function is the overseeing of postgraduate training, and its Fellowship Examination (FRCPath) is recognised as the standard assessment of fitness to pr ...

in 1985 and a

forensic pathologist Forensic pathology is pathology that focuses on determining the cause of death by examining a corpse. A post mortem examination is performed by a medical examiner or forensic pathologist, usually during the investigation of criminal law cases an ...

the same year, making her the first female full-time forensic pathologist in the United Kingdom. She held a professorship of forensic medicine at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

before moving to Ireland in 1998 to take up the position of Deputy State Pathologist. She was appointed to the position of State Pathologist in January 2004, succeeding Professor

John Harbison John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938) is an American composer, known for his symphonies, operas, and large choral works. Life John Harris Harbison was born on December 20, 1938, in Orange, New Jersey, to the historian Elmore Harris Harb ...

to become the first female State Pathologist in Ireland. She is also Professor of Forensic Medicine at the

and

. Cassidy has also worked as a consultant for the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

, helping to identify the remains of victims of war crimes in

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and He ...

. Cassidy announced her intended retirement as State Pathologist of Ireland on 7 September 2018. She has acted as a consultant to the television crime series ''

Taggart ''Taggart'' is a Scottish detective fiction television programme created by Glenn Chandler, who wrote many of the episodes, and made by STV Studios for the ITV network. It originally ran as the miniseries "Killer" from 6 until 20 September 19 ...

''. She also advised Irish crime writer

Alex Barclay Yve Williams, née Morris, who writes under the name Alex Barclay (born Bayside, Dublin, Ireland in 1974), is an Irish journalist and crime writer. Life Early life Morris was born in Bayside, Dublin, and attended Bayside National School follow ...

. A character in the book ''The Human Body'' is based on her.

Media career

Since retiring as state pathologist in 2018, Cassidy has fronted series for

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...

including ''Dr. Cassidy's Casebook'' where she revisited some of the most memorable investigations of her career. In August 2022, she took part in the documentary ''Cold Case Collins'', a retrospective look at the assassination of Irish revolutionary,

Michael Collins Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to: * Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician * Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and Ge ...

on the hundredth anniversary of his death. In January 2023, Cassidy will appear on the sixth series of '' Dancing with the Stars Ireland. She was partnered with Stephen Vincent and was eliminated 2nd overall in week 4, finishing in 10th place.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassidy, Marie 1951 births Living people Irish pathologists British pathologists British forensic scientists Women forensic scientists People from Rutherglen Alumni of the University of Glasgow Academics of the University of Glasgow Academics of Trinity College Dublin People from Glasgow Irish women scientists 20th-century British women scientists 21st-century British women scientists Women pathologists 20th-century Irish people 21st-century Irish people

Early life and education

Career

Media career

See also

References