Cardiac death task force rejects mass screening

ACCESS to vital life-saving equipment is "a post code lottery" claimed the mother of the former Tyrone Gaelic football captain, Cormac McAnallen.

Bridget McAnallen was speaking at the publication of a report on sudden cardiac death which coincided with the second anniversary of her son's death. She said screening of young people participating in sport was essential as it could alert them of the need to alter or regulate their lifestyle.

However, a special task force on sudden cardiac death has advised the Government that there is insufficient evidence to support the introduction of a mass population screening programme. It is estimated that 5,000 Irish people die from sudden cardiac death each year, including 60 people under the age of 40.