'Like the golden ticket': Cork woman 'relieved' cervical cancer case is over after HSE apology

Cork native Leona Macken (centre) and her husband Alan (right) held hands as the apology from HSE’s National Screening Service chief executive Fiona Murphy was read to them. Picture: Collins Courts

Cork native Leona Macken and her husband Alan held hands as the apology from HSE’s National Screening Service chief executive Fiona Murphy was read to them.

Inside Court 1 of Dublin's Four Courts, family and friends, some of whom had travelled from Leona’s community in Fairhill in Cork City, could be heard sobbing.

Dressed in a white blouse and beige fitted hat, the 38-year-old mother of two, who has stage 4 cancer after she was misdiagnosed during a cervical screening exam in 2016 and 2020, listened intently.

Because of the urgency of her diagnosis, Ms Macken's case before the High Court was fast-tracked through the courts system.

At one point the pain of hearing the words of the apology “for the failings that have occurred and led to your diagnosis”, became too much for Alan Macken, who tried to force back the tears by pressing his eyes firmly with his hands.

Cork native Leona Macken (centre) and her husband Alan (right) held hands as the apology from HSE’s National Screening Service chief executive Fiona Murphy was read to them. Picture: Collins Courts

His wife, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy, leaned over and kissed him saying “it's okay” as he looked to her for strength in that moment. 

They hugged each other before thanking their legal team and leaving the Four Courts.

“I do feel relieved its over and that the HSE has apologised,” Ms Macken told the Irish Examiner.

“It means so much to have it, it’s important. I had two misdiagnosed smears, one in 2016 and one in 2020. That’s two years on from Vicky Phelan.

“I had to drag everyone through this and had to do it all myself. If I never looked into it, would I have ever known?”

Ms Macken was suffering unexplained abdominal pain and bleeding and sought medical help.

“I had everything done, but all tests came back okay," she explained. "I had another smear in 2023 and I had cancer - it was stage 1 b2. Then I had a hysterectomy and was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, now I am stage 4.

“I was always conscious of my health, I paid for my first smear at 21. It was the whole (the late British reality television personality) Jade Goody story that made me get it done privately. I had a smear again in 2013, that was fine.

Now I am undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy and the fight goes on. 

"The chemo is hard, but it’s every three weeks so I try to build myself up again," Ms Macken said.

Her husband Alan said it was “hard to take it all in” as he listened to the apology in court. “She has fought so hard, but we are getting through it, she is very brave,” he said, while Ms Macken added that “as horrible as the situation is”, she was “hugely satisfied to get the apology”.

“It was a long journey, and even though Alan went through it and so did my family, I fought it all on my own in ways that they didn’t,” she said.

“It was like the golden ticket getting them (the HSE) to acknowledge that they failed me, to be honest. I didn’t realise it until I heard it, and I knew, yes, this is what I wanted.” 

The couple, who live in Artane, Dublin with their two children, eight-year-old Drew and five-year-old Quin, said they have “worked together as a family” as Ms Macken undergoes intensive treatment.

“The kids are great, and they look to you for support,” said Ms Macken.

Leona Macken: 'It means so much to have it, it’s important. I had two misdiagnosed smears, one in 2016 and one in 2020. That’s two years on from Vicky Phelan.' Picture: Collins Courts

Leona and Alan, who met in 2010, celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary last Friday.

“I met him on a night out in Dublin when I came up from Cork and followed him here and that’s where we are, and we help each other,” she continued. “We are doing our best just to fight on.”

Leona’s parents Mary and Jerimiah Cooney described their daughter as a “rebel heart from Cork”. Her mother said: “She is incredible the way she is handling everything.”

“She is an amazing woman," said her proud father as he fought back tears. “We are so proud of her, she has kept it all together, at the same time she is a devoted mother and wife.”