Kerry woman on her deathbed being offered 'hollow sympathy', CervicalCheck case told

Mr Justice Kevin Cross today urged mediation to take place in the 73-year-old grandmother's case

Joan Lucey has sued in relation to the alleged, misreading or misinterpretation or misreporting of her cervical smears taken in February 2011 and August 2011. File photo

A 73-year-old woman on her deathbed with terminal cervical cancer who has pleaded for mediation with the HSE in her legal action over her smear slides is only being offered “hollow sympathy”, the High Court has been told.

“All Joan Lucey is being offered on her death bed is sympathy. It is hollow sympathy,” her counsel told the High Court as she explained that the HSE won’t take up an invitation to direct mediation talks in advance of the action going ahead next week.