Judicial Committee decision published by Vet Council

24 April 2026 

Last year, a Judicial Committee of the Vet Council considered a disciplinary charge against Dr Leo Molloy. The Judicial Committee handed down a penalty of censure and a 45 per cent contribution to the disciplinary process costs to Dr Leo Molloy, a veterinarian on the Council’s Register.

The censure and $23,000 contribution follow Dr Molloy’s conviction in the Auckland District Court in April 2021 for knowingly publishing a name in breach of a suppression order, and being sentenced to 350 hours’ community service and fined $15,000. He appealed against this decision to the High Court, but this was dismissed.

Dr Molloy’s conviction was referred to a Vet Council Complaints Assessment Committee (CAC) by the Registrar. A CAC is an independent committee of the Council with two veterinarians and a lay person. The CAC then decided to lay a disciplinary charge with the Judicial Committee.

It is the Judicial Committee that makes the final decision on whether to take disciplinary action, after hearing from the veterinarian involved. Judicial Committee members have legal knowledge, veterinary expertise, and familiarity with our professional standards. 

The Judicial Committee found that the conviction reflected adversely on Dr Molloy’s fitness to practise as a veterinarian. In particular, the nature of Dr Molloy’s offending cast doubts on his integrity and judgement, and his actions indicated a failure of good judgement.

The full written decision has now been published, as well as a precis.

Full decision

Precis