Dónal Walsh shouldn’t have had to endure such a poor health service

DÓNAL Walsh will be buried today having fought two battles in his short life — one with cancer and one with our health service.

Politicians have been paying tribute to the Kerry teenager since he passed away on Sunday, but they should be hanging their heads in shame at what he had to endure for the past four years.

Just 12 when he was first diagnosed with cancer, Dónal quickly learned that sick children are not a priority for Irish governments. Confused and in shock after learning he had a tumour, Dónal later wrote that those first few weeks were filled with excruciating pain.