Firms to close in protest over Billy's transplant delay

BUSINESSES in Killorglin, Co Kerry, are to shut down for one hour in protest over Health Minister Micheál Martin's refusal to intervene to help a local man get a life-saving lung transplant.

Billy Burke, aged 29, who has cystic fibrosis, appealed for Mr Martin to intervene earlier this week, but Mr Martin told the Dáil any decision on a transplant must be a clinical judgment.

A Manchester hospital has offered to carry out the transplant, but the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, which has "first call" on donated Irish lungs, will not release a lung for him.