Harney denies using influence to help ill mother

Minister for Health Mary Harney today denied her seriously ill mother used political influence to jump the queue for a hospital operation.

The Tánaiste was responding to a Sunday newspaper claim that Mrs Sarah Harney, 82, was operated on at Tallaght General Hospital ahead of two other patients who had been waiting longer.

But the close-to-tears minister insisted today: “I don’t want to comment on it except to say I regret very much that my very sick mother was brought into a political discussion. I really resent that.”

The clearly emotional Tánaiste added: “It is completely untrue. The doctors in Tallaght hospital have confirmed to me a clinical decision was made about my mother and there was no interference from any member of my family, including myself.”

Miss Harney was speaking after attending today’s Cabinet meeting at Avondale House, Co Wicklow to coincide with the 400th anniversary celebrations of the Garden County.