Transplant delay - Leaving Billy in limbo unforgivable

THE harrowing case of Billy Burke is not going to go away. Proof, if it were needed, of that fact was amply demonstrated on the streets of Killorglin yesterday.

In a rare outpouring of public anger, the town literally ground to a halt as 5,000 people marched in protest over the refusal of Newcastle hospital in England to perform a life-saving operation on the 29-year-old Kerryman.

The rguably, the Irish Government must also bear a large measure of responsibility over its delay in providing a dedicated transplant unit here.

Despite last month’s ceremonial opening of a transplant unit in the Mater Hospital by the Taoiseach, it will not be functioning until the summer and even then the number of operations will be limited.

A most appalling aspect of this debacle was the failure of last week’s meeting between Irish and Newcastle officials to answer Billy’s demand for a chance to live. Leaving him in limbo was unforgivable.

In light of this, the news that Manchester hospital will perform the transplant as soon as a lung becomes available is heartening.