‘There is nothing worse than waking up and seeing emptiness beside you’

THE wife of a former garda superintendent whose chances of surviving cancer were significantly reduced by the actions of his doctor has spoken for the first time about the trauma of his illness, his death and their battle to extract the truth from their GP.

Speaking exclusively to the Irish Examiner on the first anniversary of Martin Dorney’s death, Paula Dorney, herself a former garda, said the past year has been one of heartbreak for her and her three children.

“I used to do shift work and I’d be looking forward to going out the door to work at 4pm and he’d be the one around for the bedtimes, bathtimes, homework, supper time. On holidays, he’d be the one entertaining the kids while I sunbathed. The kids, especially Ciarán my youngest, are bereft without him. He worshipped his dad.”