Billy Burke’s death - Damning epitaph for health service

BILLY Burke’s tragic death is a bitter metaphor for Ireland’s flawed health service and its long-running dependence on Britain for lifesaving lung transplants.

Sadly, despite spending four years on a British hospital’s waiting list, the 29-year-old Kerryman finally lost his battle with cystic fibrosis yesterday without getting the lifesaving operation he desperately needed.

If there is one positive aspect to his passing, it was in focusing national attention on Ireland’s failure to care adequately for victims of cystic fibrosis.