TIMELINE OF SCANDAL

2008:

CervicalCheck is established. It is the first time free smear tests are offered to women aged 25-60 at three and five-yearly intervals.

Smear-takers are registered at GPs’ surgeries and clinics across the country.

Tests are outsourced to a laboratory in Texas to help clear a backlog. Domestic labs are not used because they are not accredited and could not cope with the demand.

2010:

CervicalCheck starts to do reviews of cases where women were given an all-clear in their test but went on to develop cancer.

2011:

Vicky Phelan, a mother from Co Limerick, has a smear test and is given the all-clear.

2014:

Ms Phelan has symptoms of cervical cancer. She is diagnosed with the disease by cancer specialists in University Hospital Limerick.

The Limerick consultant informed CervicalCheck that his patient had a test in 2011.

2014:

CervicalCheck carries out a review of Ms Phelan’s case, along with those of 14 other women.

2016:

Doctors are issued with advice on how to inform women that an internal CervicalCheck review of their case has been done.

They are asked to use their judgment on how it should be communicated to the women. If the women had died it should be recorded on their file.

2017:

Ms Phelan is told that her cancer is terminal. A dispute arises between her consultant and CervicalCheck over who should tell her of the report. CervicalCheck says it would not be appropriate for them to do so.

In September, Ms Phelan eventually is told of the report by her own doctors.