This is not a life I want to live...
Oireachtas Committee to hear Brendan’s voice from the grave
A MAN who was due to address an Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying will finally get to deliver his message – three months after his death.
Brendan Clarke was scheduled to speak to TDS and Senators in October about living with motor neurone disease, but he died on August 3.
His testimony was captured on video by fellow campaigners from End Of Life Ireland three months before his death and is due to be played to the committee on Tuesday.
The footage shows Brendan, originally from Westport, Co Mayo, but living in Balbriggan, North Dublin, with his two nieces Sarah and Tara.
Delivering an emotionally charged statement he says: “Ten months ago I was perfectly fine, and as you can see now I’m in a wheelchair, and it’s very difficult to live this way.
“It’s not a life I want to live.”
Brendan asks that when the committee’s work is done “that ye might... let people like me, I won’t be around then, to have the choice, if they want, to avail of assisted dying.
“It’s not an easy decision to make but in my condition it is – I cannot live like this, it’s not a life.
“I just hope that... ye will make the right decision for people like me.”
A second video with his nieces, which will also be shown to the Oireachtas committee, tells of their heartbreak at Brendan’s condition.
Sarah added: “Brendan, you’ve always been this person who was just so full of life and just did whatever you wanted.
“You’ve had such a big and wild life, and I’ve loved just hearing all about it and being a part of it.
“I consciously support you having made this decision because you’ve always known your own mind.
“You loved your apartment always felt it was your sanctuary, now you just feel trapped,”
Tara adds that the past year has been “heartbreaking to watch you lose control of even the simplest things”.
She tells how Brendan showed great determination to get himself up and to the toilet, and to make his toast every morning.
She said: “I think there was hope even until a couple of weeks ago...
I just hope that.. ye will make the right decision for people like me
but now that you’re not able to make your toast... “It’s a small thing but it’s a massive curve ball in this story because the autonomy to even do that being taken away from you is heartbreaking. “You went from being the life and soul of every party on every continent in the world and loved by all, to not being able to make your own toast.”
End Of Life Ireland chair Janie Lazar will be in the public gallery when Brendan’s message is heard.
She said: “Brendan asked to meet with the [committee] in May 2023 whilst he still had his voice and could be physically assisted to come in to the Dail.
“Sadly this was not possible before the summer recess.
“Acutely aware of how fast he was deteriorating, Brendan requested End Of Life Ireland video him.
“His family want to see legislation for voluntary assisted dying so others do not have to go through what their uncle did.”
The committee will also hear from the Irish Association of Palliative Care, the Irish Hospice Foundation and Hope Ireland.
Last Tuesday, the Oireachtas committee heard from health experts.