TD apologises for ‘misleading’ breast cancer claim

A FIANNA Fáil TD last night apologised for putting out false claims about breast cancer care in his constituency.

Tipperary North deputy Michael Smith said the inaccurate information had been “inadvertently” included in a four-page election booklet released by him.

The apology came after Labour challenger for the seat, Senator Kathleen O’Meara, accused him of deliberately misleading women. “This flier which tells them that free breast screening is available to them, when the reality is that there is no such service available in North Tipperary. In fact the failure to extend BreastCheck to this county means that at least 21 women with early breast cancers will not be detected.