‘Women need full and frank answers’

Sinn Féin Councillor Chris MacManus has said we cannot live in a society where terminally ill women must take to radio and TV to achieve some sense of justice.

“An ethos of true accountability must be established, and we need to end a culture where concealment and self-preservation outweigh any sense of compassion or responsibility.

“Mandatory disclosure must be a crucial element of that accountability.

“It is imperative to give women like Emma Ní Mhathúna and Vicky Phelan full and frank answers as to why they were failed by both the HSE and the State.

“We must also work to rebuild public confidence in the cervical screening programme. This process saves lives.

“We cannot lose sight of that. However, the mistakes of the past must never be repeated. Concealment and self-preservation outweighed any sense of compassion or responsibility.

“At the stroke of a pen, women’s lives were drastically shortened, and they didn’t even know,” he said.

He added: “The government must do right by the women and families affected. They must do right by future generations.”