Support group CervicalCheck ends talks with government while court remains unchanged

THE SUPPORT GROUP for Women Affected by the CervicalCheck Scandal ended discussions with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly after no adjustments could be made in the next court.

221+ wrote to the Minister of Health today to end the discussion, saying they were “frustrated” with the response they received from the government, calling the last three weeks “useless.”

“Four and a half months after his mandate we are forced to conclude that this government, which may have finally done the right thing on this issue, is in fact speaking from both sides of its mouth,” the group said in a letter to the Minister. Donnelly.

CervicalCheck activist Vicky Phelan had previously expressed anger at the process surrounding the creation of the court, as women affected by the scandal were not given a chance to comment on the decision.

The group, which was established in 2018, sought to change the court to reflect the new legal context after court decisions were made in the Ruth Morrissey and Patricia Carrick cases.

“We not only pointed out problems, we also proposed solutions. We recognize that some of these solutions were not possible at a 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. They clearly don’t, ”the group said in a statement.

We see no point in continuing with this process. This Government had the opportunity to ensure a solution for these women that is better than the long fight in court. He chose otherwise and that will be his legacy when the debacle of the past can now be consigned to the archives.

The group had previously said it did not trust the proposed court and now the group is solely focused on supporting women and families affected by CervicalCheck.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Minister said his priority was to facilitate the “least burdensome process” for women and families affected by the CervicalCheck controversy.

The spokesman noted Judge Charles Meenan’s recommendations that a court was “more compassionate” with legal proceedings in the Superior Court, and said it offered “a better route for women and families to advance their legal actions.”

They added that women and families have tried to file lawsuits with the court in recent weeks, but noted that they were unable to do so because the court is currently on hold.