The news broke last week about the death of Vicky Phelan. People all around the country shared heartfelt tributes to this amazing woman. So here’s one more.
Vicky Phelan was born and grew up in Mooncoin, Kilkenny, a sibling of 5 other children of John and Gaby. She attended the University of Limerick, where she received a BA in European Studies. Her life was quiet, for the most part. In the 90s she was badly wounded in a car crash, resulting in a 10 day coma. She and her partner Jim had two children, Amelia and Darragh, the loves of Vicky’s life.
Once again, life seemed quiet, her and Jim raised Amelia and Darragh in Limerick. However a routine smear test was to change the course of her life. Phelans smear test came back negative, however in 2014 she discovered her results had been misinterpreted, resulting in a diagnosis of cervical cancer. Vicky didn’t take this news sitting down. In 2017 she took the state to court, resulting in a lengthy legal battle which was awarded in her favour, along with a settlement of €2.5 billion against Clinical Pathology Laboratories, the company responsible for the testing. A gift to the state, Vicky refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and Ireland was the better for that decision.
It wasn’t just Vicky affected, however. Thanks to Vickys push for answers and her willingness to not stand down, it was revealed that over 221+ women had been wrongly given negative results, and were all subsequently diagnosed with cancer. The simple act of standing up to the state had already saved hundreds of women and their families time they otherwise would have lost. Phelan pushed for reports and investigations into the scandal, and never stopped fighting.
For her work she received both the Freedom of Limerick award and an Honorary Doctorate from UL for her work for women’s health. BBC named her as one of their 100 Women in 2018, and her biography, Overcoming won the An Post Irish Book of the Year in 2019.
Like so many others before her, like Lyndsey Bennett and Emma Mhic Mhathúna, Vicky’s diagnosis had been terminal. In 2018, despite doctors estimating she had a year to live, four more years were granted to Vicky. During those 4 years she travelled to America for support and treatment, however returned home in 2021 to begin palliative care.
The 14th November was a devastating day for Ireland. Vicky Phelan died peacefully at Milford Hospice in Limerick, surrounded by her family. Ireland lost one of the bravest women we’ve seen in a long time. Without Vicky’s sense of courage, her resilience and unwillingness to back down, Ireland and its women would be in a much different place. A place where secrets are hidden from us about our very own bodies. Vicky was a fighter for all mná.
A mother, a wife, a friend, campaigner, but most importantly a woman. I wish we never had to hear her name. I wish we never knew Vicky’s story.
Suaimhneas ort, a chroí.