Woman whose mother died of aneurysm urges people to embrace new organ-donor laws

Rose Moloney, who died aged 66 in 2017, became an organ donor for three people.

The daughter of a Thurles woman who died suddenly from a brain aneurysm and gave life to three people through organ donation has urged people to welcome new laws on donation.

The Human Tissue Act 2024 is in place from Tuesday. It brings in altruistic living organ donation to strangers for the first time in Ireland, and sees the creation of an opt-out register.

Every year, about 30,000 people die in Ireland. Fewer than 100 typically become organ donors.

From Tuesday, only relatives of people whose names are not on a register will be asked about possible organ donation at death.

Roselyn Grufferty said the death of her mother, Rose Moloney, at just 66 in 2017 was shocking.

“She was in the prime of her health. She was out golfing the day before, she went to a charity bridge event that morning and she was waiting to go to bridge that night and it just happened all of a sudden,” she recalled.

She was cared for at Clonmel Hospital — now Tipperary University Hospital.

When the family were asked about organ donation, they agreed without hesitation.

“They prep you so well in the hospital. They go through everything with you and the team were just fantastic, they made us feel at peace and at ease,” she said.

They gave us time, my sister was able to come home from America and say goodbye to her before they pronounced the time of death.

The donated organs were shared with three people.

“We have received letters from the recipients of mum’s organs,” she said.

“That’s very comforting for us that they’re out there, living their best life. And it’s great that mum is out there somewhere.” 

Ms Moloney had carried an organ-donor card since the 1970s, a hand-written card as was the style then.

“It was lovely to find that card, and for us to be at peace and know we respected her wishes to donate,” her daughter said.

She called on people to learn how the new law works, saying: “Don’t be afraid to have the conversation, let your loved ones know your wishes."

Positive step in the right direction

Positive step in the right direction

Irish Kidney Association national advocacy and projects manager Colin White also welcomed the Act.

“I don’t think in its own right it is going to be a massive gamechanger but I will say it’s a very positive step in t

he right direction,” he said.

The Act is part of ongoing moves to improve the Irish organ donation system, he added.

“The role of the family remains,” he stressed, even for people not on the opt-out register.

He welcomed another significant change for kidney donations under this Act.

“Part of the legislation is the introduction of altruistic organ donation, that’s where a member of the public can decide ‘I’d like to donate my kidney’ to a stranger,” he said.

Adults can donate to people on Irish waiting lists if they match and other strict criteria are met.

He called on people to carry a signed organ donor card, saying that asking a family member to be the co-signatory on this can open the conversation.