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VICKY PHELAN HAS been awarded an honorary fellowship from Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).
Phelan’s bravery in making public her missed CervicalCheck results led to national outcry and an investigation.
As a result of her taking the company involved and CervicalCheck to court, we now know more than 221 women have been affected by the scandal.
At this stage 20 women, including Emma Mhic Mhathúna, affected by the misread results have died from the disease. However Dr Gabriel Scally whose report into the controversy was released in September has warned many more women may be affected.
In recent weeks Phelan and fellow survivor Lorraine Walsh and Stephen Teap whose wife Irene died from the disease established the 221+ support group in order to help the women and their families affected by CervicalCheck scandal.
Today President of WIT Willie Donnelly praised Phelan for determination throughout the controversy.
In a moving tribute Donnelly said “Irish society was all the better for Vicky Phelan’s unique and generous contribution”.
Vicky demanded truth and fought for equality for all.
Phelan is the Head of Literacy Development at WIT and the honorary fellowship is the highest award the college can bestow. She was joined by her parents Gabbi and John, husband Jim and children Amelia and Darragh at the ceremony.
Addressing those gathered today Phelan described herself as a lifelong learner.
Quoting Nelson Mandela Phelan said she has used her education to expose the CervicalCheck debacle. She highlighted the lack of critical thinking taught at secondary schools, saying students learn to “read, memorise and regurgitate”.
“Critical thinking helped me to expose what happened”, skills she said she only learned because she was privileged enough to continue her education through third level.
Critical thinking allowed me challenge what I was told, after reflecting on how I went from an all clear smear to invasive cervical cancer.
Phelan said even at the age of 40 she “still didn’t know what (she) I wanted to be when I grew up”. However she said she feels her role now as an advocate for women is the one she was meant to do:
I believe what happened to me, happened for a reason. I believe I have finally found my role in life.
Phelan said her tumours have now reduced by 50%, due to a drug she found through her own research, after her medical team told her she had only a matter or months to live.
In accepting her award today Phelan said it was a “dream come true”:
I am honoured to accept this award and wish to accept this award on behalf of the women of Ireland for whom I have been campaigning and who inspire me to continue in my campaign for improvements in women’s healthcare.
You can watch Phelan’s speech in full here.
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They really don’t understand do they
He should be removed from his position, and put in prison for incitement to murder. Distancing themselves is simply not good enough.
Probably because they actually agree with him but don’t want to admit it publicly.
Exactly Sean, a govt minister in one of the worlds most populous countries puts a contract to kill on somebody’s head and he’s not even removed from his post?!?
Unbelievable. So the minister says its OK to murder. Come on Paskistan. Arrest him!
They locked up Afridi the man who helped the US capture Bin Laden. Most Pakistanis love the minister’s comments and so do the other politicans who are “distancing” themselves for politican reasons/US Aid. If the film-maker lived in Pakistan he would have been executed by Pakistani Blashpemy Laws.
The Americans Give $1.6billion annually to Egypt, not sure how much they give to Pakistan but they did cut their aid by a few hundred million dollars after the imprisonment of the doctor, it was the Americans way of protesting at his arrest and imprisonment. It was also obvious to all that certain elements in Pakistani intelligence were aiding Al Qaeda and Bin Laden and hiding him under their noses.
You have to wonder at the hypocrisy, this Egyptian Copt living in America makes a poor quality film about Muslims which tells of their violent nature.
Muslims around the world then protest about the film – violently, killing many people and causing enormous damage, saying that their’s is a religon of peace and tolerance. This is topped off by a government minister in Pakistan calling for his “brothers” in the Taliban and Al Qaeda to help and kill the maker of the film, he’d put up a reward of $100,000 for the “noble deed”. Not one of the other Pakistani ministers objected to this, they just looked on solemnly.
What did we learn from this? The White House, Obama and other politicians will be quick to condem anything that criticises Islam, but anything that takes the mick out of Christianity and not a word from them. Just look at what that auld wan did to that fresco of Christ in Spain, and she wants paying now. Not a word.
Then we learn that Pakistani government ministers are bestest buddies with the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and none of their own government even raises an eyebrow. Who knew?
Pakistan has regularly been not far off from a failed state. Yet the US had no problem funding and allowing the Pakistanis to develop their nuclear weapons programme. The US also turned a blind eye when Pakistan sold their nuclear expertise to North Korea for profit.
Why is the US concerned re Iranian nuclear programme? Nothing to do with oil or thwarting Chinese influence in region.
Have you a source to the assertion that the USA funded the Pakistani nuclear program? I’m under the impression that it was the Saudis who bankrolled it and the US were as surprised as everyone else when Pakistan officially became a nuclear power.
Barry, the US were far from surprised. They knew what Pakistan was up at every step of their nuclear programme. Look up the book ‘Deception – Pakistan, The United States and the Global Nuclear Weapons Conspiracy’ by Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott Clark. A really researched, detailed fantastic read on this whole issue. The US has a lot to answer for.
I’ll have a look at that, thanks.
Pakistan will waffle on about religious and regional sensibilities blah blah blah. They will do nothing because they are an Islamic theocracy .
This some what gives an explanation to how Osama bin laden could hide in Pakistan for years.
And why the Americans never told the Pakistani officials what their Bin Laden plans were.
American arrogance, most people thought. It looks like the Americans know a lot more than what most anti yank and conspiracists think. I’m not saying they were right or wrong “to go in” as they did, who am I to make that call, but Bin Laden had declared war on that country and the Americans really do not have any friends in that part of the world. It looks like they are on their own. It could be scarier if the republicans were in power.
It looks like, to me, they did the only thing they could.
When you see things like this, our government aren’t all bad…
They’re still not great though…
Surely the only way to distance themselves is by removing him from office? I wonder how Obama will feel if the film-maker is killed. As president he should be protecting his citizens right to free speech not denouncing it.
This maniac can’t run the Railways in Pakistan and the rail sustem is closer to extintion by the day that passes under his leadership. He is offering $100000 ( out of the American doled money ) to the would-be assasin . It is a sad story of Pakistan today.
Reminds me of that wise old proverb, goes something like “Hey Pakistan* Does your granny have a fan** ?? Does it Sm……… ?”
Personally I taught the guy should have got an Oscar . Bravo bravo .
What is the fascination with Bin Laden? Who cares.
You would have to be a complete dimwit to even consider the idea that he was somehow involved in 9/11.
“You would have to be a complete dimwit to even consider the idea that he was somehow involved in 9/11.”
I guess the overwhelming majority of Irish and American people are “dimwits” by your expert standards. Great another “one world order” “conspiracy theory” genius. That’s weird Palestinian Americans were cheering on the day of the attacks in Jersey City shouting “death to America” and partying. I bet all the attacks by Radical-Muslims in Germany, UK, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, France, etc. after 9/11 were also part of a conspiracy. Not to mention the failed plot in Ireland, against the Israeli Embassy in Dublin. Which could have killed hundreds of Irish also, since the Israeli Embassy shares their building with Irish Companies, by passers on the street, and neighboring buildings?
The same guy who talks about “Syrian Rebels” also believes that 9/11 was an entirely inside job.
Who knew?
are you mates with jim corr?
An anonymous seagull poster.
Fly in, drop a load of shite and then scuttle off.
I never really pay attention to these anonymous seagulls – errrrr except in this case.
Move on!
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