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The 221+ support group for women and families negatively affected by the CervicalCheck controversy has written to the Minister of Health saying that it is withdrawing any further inquiries about the CervicalCheck Court, describing it as a “useless waste of time”.
The letter was signed by members of the group’s executive committee, including Vicky Phelan, who is receiving ongoing treatment for terminal cancer.
In a statement, 221+ said that it had written to the Minister of Health to “end the exchanges regarding the CervicalCheck Tribunal and express our utter frustration at the pointless waste of time it has been during the last three weeks.”
It followed a letter sent to them by Minister Stephen Donnelly in which they said that he “acknowledged that it has not been possible to comply with the requested adjustments in the operation of the Court with respect to the statute of limitations or the issue of recidivism.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland last month, Ms Phelan described the plans for the Court as “not fit for purpose” and as a “slap in the face” for the women involved.
One of the main concerns raised by the 221+ group was the lack of concessions for a woman to return to Court if she has a recurrence of cancer and the statute of limitations.
“Legislation to create the Court was passed in June 2019 … meanwhile, court decisions made in the Ruth Morrissey and Patricia Carrick cases had changed the legal context for any CervicalCheck-related cases,” the group’s statement said. .
“We looked for changes to be made to the Court to reflect that changed context. We not only pointed out problems, we also proposed solutions.
“We recognize that some of these solutions were not possible at one stroke, but they are entirely possible if those in government had the will to act taking into account the interests and needs of this group of victims. Clearly, this is not the case.
“We don’t see any sense in continuing with this process.”
The Health Department issued a statement to RTÉ News saying that the minister’s priority was “to facilitate the least burdensome process for the women and families affected.”
He said: “The Court is a more compassionate alternative to legal proceedings in Superior Court, based on the recommendations set forth by Judge Charles Meenan in his 2018 report on an alternative system for handling cases.
It offers a better avenue for women and their families to advance their legal actions in a private and less conflictual environment than the Superior Court. It confers the same rights as the Superior Court and allows more timely access, as well as a more sensitive environment. .
“Several women and families have attempted to file claims with the Court in recent weeks, but were unable to do so because the Court is currently on hold.”
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson David Cullinane expressed “deep regret” over the collapse of the talks about the CervicalCheck Tribunal and Group 221+.
“Women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal deserve compassionate treatment,” it said in a statement.
“There must be a guarantee that no woman in group 221+ is prohibited by law from bringing a claim to the Court.
“If this requires a change in legislation, then it should be facilitated.”
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