At least 10 more cases taken against HSE and smear testing labs

At least 10 more women have begun taking legal action against the HSE and testing labs after their cervical smear tests were bungled.

The revelation comes after a US-owned laboratory contracted to analyse smear tests for the CervicalCheck programme agreed to pay €2.5m to Limerick mother of two Vicky Phelan whose abnormal test was missed and who is now terminally ill with cervical cancer.

The Department of Health said yesterday it had been informed by the State Claims Agency that six similar cases had fully commenced in that legal proceedings had issued.