Tributes have been paid to the surgeon and Dr Martin Feeley, described as a man of exceptional acumen and real courage who died at the age of 73 before Christmas, and whose funeral is being held today.
Dr Feeley was a highly regarded consultant vascular surgeon and clinical director at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital. In 2015, he was asked to stay on beyond retirement age to take a senior position as clinical director of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group
A native of Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon, Dr Feeley was also a former international rower – and was described by his family as Stalwart of Tallaght University Hospital and University College Dublin Boat Club. He competed in the men’s coxless four event at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
His criticisms of the severity of the Covid-19 lockdown, in which he described restrictions as “draconian”, led to his forced resignation as clinical director.
Dr Feeley said that the cost of the Covid resections to the community “financially and socially is enormous and one of the difficulties with this is that we cannot measure those costs” – and called for a debate on the severity of the lockdown.
He said that the damage the restrictions were doing to children and young people should be considered, and argued that most of the younger cohort did not need to be subject to lockdowns, arguing that for people who are aged under 65 and not overweight, coronavirus “is not much worse than the seasonal flu”.
Earlier this year, the Irish Times wrote that: Feeley also criticised the emphasis during the pandemic on daily case numbers – “the deliberate, unforgivable terrorising of the population”.
“This point was echoed recently by the HSE’s former infection control chief, Prof Martin Cormican, who said Ireland’s Covid response “depended on fear”.”
“If people are obese or elderly, or have co-morbidities, they mind themselves and stay at home and you don’t visit them. But why stop 85 per cent of the population living their lives for two years? Those two years are the best two years of the rest of your life and yet we just let them go by.
“We destroyed young people’s lives for what? It looks like nothing was gained from it,” he added.
Dr Feeley told Gript’s Ben Scallan that the population was “terrorised during the pandemic” and that children were at “zero risk” and should not be subjected to pressure to take vaccines.
Dr Martin Feeley, who resigned after speaking out against "draconian" Covid restrictions, tells Gript he feels the population has been "terrorised" during the pandemic, and discusses the lockdown, vaccines and the need to follow science
Full interview: https://t.co/q0b1Q8NPNO pic.twitter.com/Szygw4Gv0T
— gript (@griptmedia) April 26, 2021
1|2 Dr. Martin Feeley: "What is so different is that children are not, are minimally affected by this and the second most important part is that children do not transmit to any detectable degree!" pic.twitter.com/zouNTwILR2
— Jan 𝕏 Jensen (@_Jan_Jensen) December 24, 2023
Tributes have been paid to Dr Feeley as a man “unafraid to question the consensus” as he was described by Michael McNamara TD.
A doctor unafraid to question the consensus and he paid the price.
May he rest in peace. https://t.co/2EQjh7iSOp— Michael McNamara TD (@MlMcNamaraTD) December 22, 2023
Commentator and author Ivor Cummins said that Dr Feeley was a person “of exceptional medical and scientific acumen, a truly great man of real courage,” who showed exemplary leadership.
Broadcaster Niall Boylan said that Dr Feeley’s “public opposition to lockdowns from within the HSE cost him his job, a grim testament to the stifling of dissent and anybody who dared suggest NPHET and the government were getting it wrong.”
Dr Feeley told Boylan that despite the severe restrictions the state had absolutely failed to protect the nursing homes.
“Martin, a vocal advocate like many of us, has now been vindicated by the knowledge we now have and numerous published papers on lockdowns and their usefulness show they made little or no difference,” he said
Boylan described him as a “a seasoned vascular surgeon with a wealth of experience, Martin held the prestigious diploma of Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons and served as the clinical director at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital. His devotion to his patients was unwavering.”
He said that Dr Feeley had “passionately argued that our efforts were misdirected, focusing on protecting those not truly at risk from severe consequences of vid while neglecting the higher-risk elderly population.”
“Rest in peace, Dr. Martin Feeley, your legacy of courage and conviction will endure,” the broadcaster wrote.
Entrepreneur Declan Ganley said that “Dr. Martin Feeley dared to challenge the consensus of the Dublin establishment, and lost his job for it. I know a lot of other Dr’s who shared some of his views, particularly on Ireland’s heavy handed prolonged lockdowns. We have not yet had time to do a clear eyed retrospective view of that less than glorious time but when it happens, Dr. Feeley should be seen for the Irish patriot & hero that he was. Requiescat In Pace.”
In his interview with the Irish Times, Dr Feeley was was also critical of the direction of the HSE in general.
“They have filled hundreds of acres of extra office space with people doing I don’t know what. They brought in a layer of admin in the hospital groups, which I was in, on massive salaries and they all wanted to build their own little empires. And they produce absolutely nothing.
“Money dictates everything these days. People’s [sense of] importance, the focus on amassing wealth, drives me around the bend. It’s so sad – American medicine brought in here, on steroids.”
UCD Boat Club said that they were “profoundly shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our remarkable coach, rower and teammate, Martin Feeley”.
All those in UCD Boat Club are profoundly shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of our remarkable coach, rower and teammate, Martin Feeley.
Our deepest condolences to Colleen, Tara, lain, Emmett, Aoife and all of the Feeley family.
Ad Astra Martin.https://t.co/iEUvGHHZfR
— UCD Boat Club (@UCDBC) December 24, 2023
Very sad rowing news. Martin Feeley, Olympian, Henley winner and hugely successful UCD rowing coach, has passed on. He is a real loss to the sport, his family and his friends. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/6FeiAKAv7U
— liam gorman (@lmgorman77) December 23, 2023
Dr Feeley’s family wrote that he was a “beloved husband of Colleen, father to his proud children Tara, Iain, Emmett and Aoife. Dear brother to Willie, Maura, Jacinta, Benedicta, Hugh and Anita. Favourite father-in-law to Dermot and Eibhlin. Understatedly devoted grandfather to Lucian, Auberon, Jeremiah and Saileog. Deeply regretted by his brothers and sisters-in-law.”
“Relentless in his pursuit of excellence across all facets of his career and passions, unyielding in defence of his beliefs. Martin was known for his unparalleled principles, integrity and honesty,” they said.
“A gentleman who gave it his all, he will be remembered as an exemplary surgeon, colleague, advocate, mentor, athlete, coach and friend. A man who leaves an incredible legacy. He was a gift to us all.”
A Bob Seger quote completed their tribute to Dr Feeley: “I’m older now but still running against the wind”.