Jerry leaves with new heart after year in hospital

JERRY O’LEARY, who spent a record 311 days tethered to an artificial heart machine before getting his lifesaving heart transplant last December, will leave hospital today to get on with the rest of his life.

After spending almost a year in Dublin’s Mater Hospital the 50-year-old Corkman and self-confessed GAA fanatic is looking forward to realising his dream — to see the Cork hurling team bring the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to Leeside next September.

The former welder from Kanturk underwent major surgery in February last year when he was fitted with an artificial heart before beginning his long wait for a suitable donor.