Statement by Alan Kelly TD on Lynsey Bennett’s case

03 February 2021

Responding to the settlement of Lynsey Bennett’s case in the High Court, Labour Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD, has said that it is wrong that women at the centre of the CervicalCheck scandal still have to go through courts to get justice.

Deputy Kelly said:

“My thoughts first of all are with Lynsey Bennett and her young family. No woman, especially one so young, should have to go through what she has in the High Court.

“In May 2018, the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said that no woman impacted by the failures in CervicalCheck should have to go through the High Court system, yet here we are nearly three years later, with women like Lynsey still having to go through the legal system to get justice.

“Women who have had their slides misread were promised that those impacted by CervicalCheck scandal would be treated with dignity, and through mediation in a non-confrontational way. What Lynsey has gone through is far from that.

“I am at a loss as to why another family has had to go public and fight for decent treatment in the courts.

“All women who are at the centre of this scandal want to enjoy their lives at this point, they should not have to waive their anonymity and deal with all the publicity that comes with that, while dealing with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

“Despite assurances from Government that no more cases would end up going through the courts, here we are with the first case of 2021, and due to absolute indifference from the Government, I am sure it will not be the last.

“I want to thank Lynsey and the women and families who find themselves in similar situations for the bravery they have shown at a time of deep distress in their lives.”

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