Tributes pour in for brave cervical cancer campaigner and mother-of-five Emma Mhic Mhathúna as she dies aged 37
By Kim O'Leary
This afternoon tributes have been pouring in for brave mother-of-five Emma Mhic Mhathúna, one of the women at the centre of the cervical cancer controversy, who has died in Co Kerry aged 37.
Ms Mhic Mhathúna was one of the most public figures in the CervicalCheck crisis.
The brave mum of five who grew up in Leixlip and who in recent times resided in Co Kerry with her young children made the heart-breaking revelation that her cancer had 'spread to her brain' in July after hearing the news from her doctors.
Ms Mhic Mhathúna had said that she underwent smear tests every three years since the birth of her teenage daughter, and that all the results had come back as normal until 2016.
In 2016 she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and in May she was awarded €7.5 million in damages after taking legal action against the HSE and a US laboratory that was used in the Cervicalheck screening programme
Ms Mhic Mhathúna settled legal action to ensure her children, who range in age from two to 16 years, will be financially taken care of in the future.
Speaking on Today Miriam on RTE Radio One shortly after settling the legal action, Ms Mhic Mhathúna said: "The €7.5 million doesn't mean any difference to me, I went in there I didn't take any nonsense because I want my children taken care off, every mouth guard and football boot adds up. It sounds a lot but when you divide it up between five children it's not. I want it boxed off, my kids to be taken care off and I felt the HSE should pay for that. My children have been taken care off, there's nothing they'll ever want, I did that for them, I think anyone would."
Meanwhile, President Michael D. Higgins paid tribute to Ms Mhic Mhathúna in a statement, saying: "I was greatly saddened to hear that Emma Mhic Mhathúna has died. When I met her and her children in May, I was greatly struck by her poise and bravery, in the midst of what was a very difficult time for her family and friends. On behalf of the people of Ireland, I send my condolences to her family, friends, the wider community in West Kerry, and to all those who have shared Ms. Mhic Mhathúna's journey as she battled the disease."