CANCER SCANDAL MUM’S FURY AT BID TO ‘USE HER FOR VOTES’
Brave Emma slams publican’s letter urging ‘positive praise’
I just wanted to make a change for the other women
EMMA MHIC MHATHUNA
A TERMINALLY ill mum at the centre of the Cervicalcheck scandal said she felt manipulated by a Fine Gael businessman.
Emma Mhic Mhathuna has reacted angrily to a proposal she would meet the Taoiseach and help “choreograph” the fiasco “in the Government’s favour”.
Last week, publican Sean O’connor, who has close links to Emma’s local TD, Minister of State Brendan Griffin, sent the mum of five a draft letter which he planned to also send to Leo Varadkar.
In the document, published in the Sunday Independent, it is suggested Emma would be willing to give the Government “positive praise” if her legal case of medical negligence against the HSE could be fast-tracked.
Mr O’connor wrote: “There is an opportunity to choreograph this situation in the Government’s favour with co-operation from both sides.”
Emma said she was shaken by the mail and immediately rejected the proposal.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, she added: “All they are looking for is votes at the next election and I will not be bought.
“I would rather die with no money because I know my kids will be looked after.
“I just wanted to make a change for the other women in Ireland so this can never happen again.”
A Government spokesman said the Taoiseach was “disgusted” by the proposal set out in the letter. He added: “The approach is insensitive and stupid, especially in light of all that has emerged.
“The Taoiseach does not know this individual and has had no contact with him directly or indirectly.”
When shown a photograph of Mr Varadkar with Mr O’connor, understood to have been taken in 2013, the Taoiseach’s spokesman said that there had been no contact directly or indirectly “on this matter”.
Emma received the letter by text message from Mr O’connor last Friday, which he hoped to send to the Taoiseach.
She said she does not want to be contacted by a politician or anyone associated with them from here on. Emma added: “That this is a human rights issue not a political ‘let’s gain votes’ issue.”
Mr O’connor defended the letter and insisted he was trying to make life ‘stress-free’ for Emma, who he considers a close friend.
He said: “All I was trying to do was figure out ways she could be living in her house with her kids and everything set up in place before she dies.”
Mr Griffin denied he knew anything about the proposal and insisted he had “no hand, act or part” in composing the draft letter.
He added: “This is a private matter between Sean and Emma and I knew nothing about it and the Government knew nothing about it.”