Lynsey Bennett, who is terminally ill with cervical cancer, has spoken of her heart-break at facing her death and leaving her young daughters behind.
Speaking outside the High Court, where the HSE had agreed to settle her case over the reading of her smear tests, Ms Bennett broke down in tears when speaking of how much she loved her children.
The 32 year old said that with the legal battle over, she could “focus on my own fight to stay alive as long as I can”. Her case was due to start being heard at the High Court today but was settled through mediation.
Lynsey Bennet speaks outside court after settling her case over the reading of her cervical smears. Full story on @rtenews pic.twitter.com/Gr6BqJ0eSZ
— Vivienne Traynor (@viviennetraynor) February 3, 2021
Ms Bennett had four smear tests between 2010 and 2016, but all of the tests came back negative. However, she later went to her GP concerned because of bleeding and was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer in January 2017. The High Court fast-tracked her case because Ms Bennett now has stage 4 cancer with a poor prognosis, though she said she will seek treatment abroad.
The High Court heard a statement from the HSE’s cervical screening service, Cervical Check, which expressed “deep regret” to Ms Bennett and her family. They acknowledged the “many challenges” she had faced. The terms of the settlement were confidential and was made without admission of liability on behalf of the HSE. .
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Ms Bennett said she intends to set up a trust fund for her two daughters. “To my daughters, Zoe and Haley, I hope I have done enough to secure you both a future free from financial worries and that even with me not here to guide you that you can both pursue your dreams and remember Mammy loves you,” she said outside the court.
“I send my love to all the women and their families who have fought and continue to fight our heartbreaking illness.
“I can now focus on my own fight to stay alive as long as I can,” she said.
In a video addressed to an Taoiseach last year, Ms Bennett asked for the process to be made less adversarial for victims, and said that women wanted to know their families would be cared for. She said she had been through “degrading hell”.
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