Finished Trinity College in Dublin; Doctor of medicine (surgery); professor of clinical neurosurgery; in 2001 he worked at the department of neurosurgery in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin; one of four Irish candadates in 1992 ESA selection; was noticed on the shortlist of 25 candidate applicants by the European Astronauts Board Selection (EASB), but was not selected in 1992 and again 1998.