‘Appalling behaviour’ of defendants forced Faheys to give up privacy
Mrs Fahey’s solicitor yesterday said the ordeal for her and her husband Michael was compounded, in that for five years the various defendants contested this case and brought the Faheys to the point where they had to give up their privacy by bringing the case to court.
Yesterday at the Four Courts, the Faheys stood beside solicitor Cian O’Carroll as he revealed the extent of their legal battle.
He said only on the third day of the High Court hearing was the case finally settled, and only in the past week “most of the defendants acknowledged what was very clearly their mistake”.
He said this was “was appalling behaviour which caused additional harm”.
The Faheys, Mr O’Carroll said, were very happy with the settlement but it was an awful shame it did not happen sooner.
Plenty of opportunity, he said was given to the other side.
“Five years ago Mrs Fahey met with the minister for health Mary Harney. There were tears shed, there were hugs and assurances that everything would be done to sort this out quickly. Then nothing.”
He said the Faheys were relieved to have the ordeal over.
“It has been an ordeal for Michael and Olive. It began over seven years ago when the first mistakes were made in Olive’s care and continued with multiple misdiagnoses.”
When 19 months later a correct diagnosis was finally made, he said irreparable harm had been done to Mrs Fahey’s health.
“As a consequence of that discovery huge advances have been made in symptomatic breast care in Ireland and they have been largely achieved as a consequence of Olive’s injury and sacrifice.”
The Faheys thanked the Limerick Cancer Centre, which took over her care after she was finally diagnosed with invasive cancer and had to have a mastectomy.
“They have given Olive astonishing care and greatly improved the future and prospects for Olive and Michael,” said Mr O’Carroll said, who thanked the Faheys’ family and friends who had supported them through the years.
Mrs Fahey said everything had been said be her solicitor and she was just very relieved.
Her husband Michael said he thanked God it was all over and he hoped it never happened to anyone again.
