‘We have to fight it and finish it for her’

THE mother of Edel Kelly — the woman who died after her cancer went undiagnosed at Ennis Hospital, Co Clare — has described her hairdresser daughter as her best friend.

Una Kelly revealed yesterday how she and her daughter went everywhere together and, because they were so similarly sized, even shared clothing.

Indeed a picture of them at yesterday’s press conference in Kilrush seemed to be of two sisters rather than mother and daughter.

Speaking at the press briefing the family said they are convinced Edel need not have died and that fact makes her death all the harder to deal with.

Una Kelly went on to speak of the fresh pain the family are now feeling as a result of their call for a public inquiry.

But, she was adamant, it was something the family had to do.

She revealed how a claim that another misdiagnosed case of breast cancer involving the late Ann Moriarty was too much for the Kelly family to take.

Mrs Kelly also revealed that before her death, Edel, had already decided her case needed a full investigation.

Solicitor, Eugene O’Kelly, revealed that at a meeting with Edel in Kilrush she told him she had about a year to live but that she wanted her misdiagnosis to be pursued to save other women and for the sake of her two young sons.

Unfortunately time was running out rapidly as the cancer spread and Edel died in June.

Mr O’Kelly said: “I was privileged to have known Edel Kelly for a very short time.” Una Kelly said that they now wanted to carry on the demand for an independent inquiry, which Edel had started.

Mrs Kelly said: “She wanted to prevent it happening to somebody else.”

Edel’s father, John, went on to reveal how the family were very angry and upset.

“But we had to come out. I think there are more people but they may be afraid to come out. I hope they will come out for everyone’s sake.

“We will fight it. We have to fight it for her and we will finish it. This was devastating for her.

“She was a very strong person and fought it all the way.

“Even when she went to Eugene it had to be very difficult for her. It showed how strong she was.”