Terminally ill young mother makes poignant appeal to Taoiseach



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A young mother of two with terminal cervical cancer has made a moving call on the Government to pass legislation that supports her children and other grieving families.

Lynsey Bennett (32), who is suing for alleged misinterpretation of her cervical smear smears taken under the national screening program, wants to know that her 12- and 7-year-old daughters will be protected.

“My girls are not getting the support they need,” she said. “I guess as someone who lost their own mother at 24, I know the terrifying feeling of being alone and feeling like you’ve lost your biggest support.”

Bennett, a single mother, estimates that the girls have lived with their own aunt for 18 months for the past four years while she attends St James Hospital.

Lynsey Bennett wants support for her 12- and 7-year-old daughters.
Lynsey Bennett wants support for her 12- and 7-year-old daughters.

In March, the Supreme Court, while ruling on the case of Limerick woman Ruth Morrissey, noted that legislation around support is required to replace services that would have been provided by a deceased father.

In a moving video shared on her social media account, Ms. Bennett addresses Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

“The Supreme Court ruling held that damages for loss of services and costs of care cannot be recovered from these cases,” said Ms. Bennett.

Although the court indicated that changes in this complex area of ​​the law must be made through legislation, the government has not acted. And again he has failed me and other victims in my position.

Ms. Bennett, of Longford, survived two previous bouts of cancer, but returned during the pandemic.

At her first diagnosis, she said, “I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t think it was cancer because my smear test had said it was okay. No more than when my GP saw me, the first thing he checked was my smear test and he said ‘Your smear test was fine Lynsey and not even a year ago’ ”

She has found support in the 221+ group representing women affected by failures in the Cervical Check program.

“It’s so good not to be alone in this, but then it’s so heartbreaking to see what other women are going through,” Ms. Bennett said. “And it’s very difficult because everyone is at different stages and you can see what your future possibly is.”

A government spokesman said Micheál Martin was “deeply saddened” by Ms Bennett’s letter, has discussed it with the Minister of Health and has asked him to respond.

The Supreme Court ruling is being considered by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who met with group 221+.

Lynsey Bennett says her daughters have lived with their own aunt for 18 months for the past four years while she attends St James Hospital.
Lynsey Bennett says her daughters have lived with their own aunt for 18 months for the past four years while she attends St James Hospital.

The spokesperson said: “However, changing the law in this area would require detailed policy consideration, as any changes would apply to all personal injury cases involving death in the future.”

Separately, Ms. Bennett is suing HSE, Eurofins Biomnis Ireland Ltd and Quest Diagnostics Inc. in the United States.

Ms. Bennett’s cancer, it is claimed, was allowed to develop and spread unidentified, unmonitored, and untreated until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in January 2017.

She hopes the court case can move forward in January. “That is our plan now and I am trying to consider treatment abroad as well. I am not giving up.”



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