TRIBUTES from across the country have been paid to cervical check campaigner, Vicky Phelan.
Vicky who helped to expose the Irish smear test scandal died in the early hours of Monday morning at Milford Hospice aged 48. The mother of two was a regular visitor to West Clare and previously described Doughmore Beach in Doonbeg as “my little piece of heaven”.
Quin’s John Wall a terminally ill cancer patient was a dear friend of Vicky’s. He recalled,
“She took on a system as one person. The system eventually listened and learned. Thanks to her work many lives will not be lost. The way she dealt with her terminal illness inspired me and thousands of others. She lived quite successfully with it, in fact, she lived her life right up to the very last”.
Clare County Council has opened a book of condolence to Vicky in the foyer of Áras Contae an Chláir, Ennis.
A moment’s silence in her memory was also held at Monday’s meeting of the Council. “She was an outstanding woman who campaigned tirelessly so others wouldn’t have to go through same the torment and torture,” Mayor of Clare, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) said.
Her love of Clare and West Clare was noted by Cllr Mary Howard (FG), “she was an advocate for women’s health issues, she was beautiful, brave and bold”. Cllr Michael Begley (IND) was in UL when Vicky received an honorary doctorate and met her while having lunch in Bunratty six weeks ago.
