Keating hits out at doctor's cancer funding remarks

Ronan Keating has slammed a senior Welsh doctor for claiming a disproportionate amount of research money is spent investigating cancer.

The ex-Boyzone star, whose mother Marie died from cancer in 1998, is furious with comments made on Wednesday by Dr Paul Walker.

Walker, who chairs Welsh public health association PHA Cymru, said there is a "mismatch" between the level of funding given to cancer compared to other serious conditions. He also hinted that this is exacerbated by celebrities fronting anti-cancer campaigns.

Keating, launching a Cancer Research UK awareness campaign in Newport, Wales, on Thursday, said: "You don't knock charities that are doing good work. It is disgraceful that a doctor could say something like that.

"He said that men and women in the street fear cancer more than they should - if one in three people are being diagnosed with cancer, they have every right to be concerned.

"I am very disappointed in him. It is totally absurd that someone in his position could say these things."