'She gave generously to anyone who knew her' - CervicalCheck campaigner Ruth Morrissey dies 

CervicalCheck campaigner Ruth Morrissey and her husband Paul

"Ruth had a sparkle to her smile, her wit and her intelligence. That sparkle made her wonderful company and her friendship was a gift she gave generously to anyone who knew her."

Those were some of the moving words from Paul Morrissey, the husband of Ruth Morrissey, the fearless cervical smear campaigner who died peacefully in Milford Hospice yesterday.

The Limerick woman's courage and steely determination belied a gentle nature as she captured the hearts of the nation with her dignified yet dogged pursuit of justice after a misread cervical smear test.

Ms Morrissey, a 39-year-old mother of young daughter Libby whom she described as her best friend, did not find out until 2018 that a 2014 review showed smears taken under the CervicalCheck screening programme in 2009 and 2012 had been incorrectly reported.

Her cancer returned in 2018, leaving her terminally ill. 

She and her husband Paul, whom she described as her rock, took a case to the High Court.

Despite her diagnosis, Ms Morrissey’s courage in attending court and fighting for justice despite its gruelling toll made her a household symbol of bravery and honour, despite her never wanting to be in the limelight.

Through their solicitor Cian O'Carroll, Mr Morrissey spoke upon his wife's passing.

"Though just 39 years old, Ruth achieved so much in her life and chief among those accomplishments is the love she and Paul shared and the wonderful daughter they brought into this world and raised with love.

"Despite the magnitude of the harm caused to her by avoidable errors, despite the broken promise of a Taoiseach who said no other woman would have to go to trial, despite using Ruth as a test case through the final years and months of her life, neither the HSE nor the State has ever apologised to her, and now it is too late."

"Ruth’s life was a very happy one and none of the hardships of recent years robbed her of her good cheer and positive spirit. 

"She fought fiercely to stay alive for the family she adored. The example she set stands as an enduring inspiration of strength and determination that should help many others through difficult times in the future."

Ms Morrissey’s courage in attending court and fighting for justice despite its gruelling toll made her a household symbol of bravery and honour, despite her never wanting to be in the limelight.

Fellow campaigners Vicky Phelan, Lorraine Walsh and Stephen Teap were among those who honoured the legacy of Ms Morrissey.

Ms Phelan tweeted: “Ruth was one of the strongest women I know, and also one of the most positive. I never once saw her without a smile on her face and I saw her when she was very ill.” 

Ms Morrissey, along with fellow campaigners such as Ms Phelan, Ms Walsh, Mr Teap and the late Emma Mhic Mhathúna, galvanised the nation with their quest for justice, winning huge admiration across the country for their commitment to their cause.

Ms Morrissey and her husband Paul were paid the full sum of €2.16m damages awarded to them by the High Court over misreading of her cervical smear tests, the Supreme Court was told just last week.

 - Read Ann O'Loughlin's profile and tribute to Ruth Morrissey here.