Tributes are pouring in for cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan following her death.
The mum-of-two, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014, sadly passed away aged 48 in the early hours of this morning at Milford Hospice in Limerick.
Irish journalist and political correspondent Aoife Moore took to Twitter to pay tribute to Vicky, writing: “Every woman in Ireland owes Vicky a debt of gratitude.”
“We are a better country for her being in it. This didn’t have to happen and I am devastated that it did. Rest in peace, Vicky.”
Every woman in Ireland owes Vicky a debt of gratitude. We are a better country for her being in it. This didn’t have to happen and I am devastated that it did. Rest in peace, Vicky. https://t.co/GAPM40oUa9
— aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) November 14, 2022
Former 2FM presenter Louise McSharry tweeted: “I have so much respect and admiration for Vicky Phelan’s refusal to go down quietly, and her unbelievably generous advocacy for other women. Thinking of her family and all who loved her. May she rest in peace.”
Virgin Media’s Richard Chambers wrote: “Heartbreaking news. We’ve lost an incredible and courageous campaigner; a champion for the voiceless and someone who refused to accept things as they are.”
“She was a wonderful and funny woman who was always left you feeling better having talked to her.”
The Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy wrote: “Our good friend Vicky Phelan has died in the early hours of this morning at Milford Hospice in Limerick. Our deepest sympathies to Vicky’s family and friends, may she rest in peace.”
I have so much respect and admiration for Vicky Phelan’s refusal to go down quietly, and her unbelievably generous advocacy for other women. Thinking of her family and all who loved her. May she rest in peace. https://t.co/5aE6VEKudL
— Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) November 14, 2022
Heartbreaking news.
We’ve lost an incredible and courageous campaigner; a champion for the voiceless and someone who refused to accept things as they are.
She was a wonderful and funny woman who was always left you feeling better having talked to herhttps://t.co/TF3F52nVZa
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) November 14, 2022
Our good friend Vicky Phelan has died in the early hours of this morning at Milford Hospice in Limerick.
Our deepest sympathies to Vicky's family and friends, may she rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/X5LcvbbiVI
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 14, 2022
Vicky received a false negative test after she went for a cervical smear test back in 2011.
Three years later, the Kilkenny native was diagnosed with cancer, and in January 2017, she was informed that she had months to live.
In April 2018, Vicky was awarded €2.5m in damages in the High Court over the error, and her story led to the CervicalCheck scandal.
At the time, Vicky stood at the steps of the High Court and gave an impassioned speech about how the system had horrendously let her down, and cost her her life.
The cervical check scandal is now known as one of the worst women’s health scandals in Irish history.
After receiving her terminal diagnosis, Vicky used her platform to fight for justice, and highlighted the lack of cancer treatments available in Ireland.
The mother-of-two was forced to travel to the US on a number of occasions for treatment.
In 2019, Vicky penned a memoir called Overcoming, and a documentary following her life recently aired in Irish cinemas.
Vicky’s passing comes less than three weeks after the death of fellow cervical cancer campaigner Lynsey Bennett.
Vicky’s last Instagram post was a tribute to Lynsey, who was 34 at the time of her passing.
She wrote: “I am very late posting a tribute to @lynseybennettofficial here today because I am not well myself and spent most of the day out at the hospital having a procedure done.”
“That, unfortunately, is the reality of living with late stage cervical cancer as Lynsey would have known only too well these last few months of her very short life, at only 34 years of age.”
View this post on Instagram
Vicky continued: “I am thinking today of Lynsey’s two beautiful girls, Zoe and Hailee, who are so very young to have their mother taken away from them. I would also like to sympathise with Lynsey’s family and friends. I am so very sorry for your loss.”
“Lynsey had an amazing will to live which no doubt kept her alive for as long as she did beyond the 6 month prognosis that she was given. Her daughters were able to get some extra precious time to spend with their Mam and make some more memories that they will treasure.”
“May you Rest in Peace Lynsey 💔💔💔”
