This article is from page 29 of the 2008-07-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 29 JPG
A CANCER patient had to be flown by helicopter from Cork to visit Pas- chal Carmody’s clinic in Killaloe, as she was too ill to travel by road.
Noel O’Connor told the trial on Thursday that his sister Mary (46) had lived in Surrey with her two daughters, in 2002.
He said that she was diagnosed with a serious tumor in her chest, in February 2002. Her family then relo- cated her and her daughters to Cork.
Mr O’Connor said a general prac- titioner in Cork referred him to Pas- chal Carmody, to help his sister.
‘He (Mr Carmody) indicated there was a particular treatment he could administer, that could be of help to
my sister. He indicated it was photo- dynamic,” he said.
He said that they travelled by heli- copter to Killaloe in March, two or three weeks after the initial contact was made. “She travelled by helicop- ter from Farren. Mary was unable to travel any distance by car. She was too ull,” he said.
He said he paid £2,000 to Gaelic Helicopters and the helicopter landed in the GAA pitch in Killaloe, from where Mary was driven the 300-yard distance to the clinic.
Mary returned to the clinic the fol- lowing day for photodynamic treat- ment.
‘“‘He was very positive about the treatment. I got the impression the treatment could be of benefit to
Mary,” said Mr O’Connor.
He said he personally felt very posi- tive and Mary was “extremely happy that something was being done for her.’ Mr O’Connor paid €7,500 for the treatment that day.
He said he had expected “several follow-ups but there was no follow- up at that time.”
After they returned to Cork, his sister’s condition “quite rapidly di- simproved.” Within four days, she was moved to Marymount Hospice in Cork, and died on May 6, 2002.
Under cross-examination by Pat Marrinan, SC, representing Mr Carmody, Mr O’Connor said, “We would have done whatever needed to be done, photodynamic treatment or chemo, or whatever.”
Mr Marrinan said his client was “somewhat taken aback when a helicopter arrived in the local GAA pitch.”
Mr O’Connor said he had indicated that he would have to fly his sister there, because she was so ill. How- ever Mr Marrinan said his client was adamant he hadn’t been aware of this and was surprised when the helicop- ter arrived.
“He also takes serious issue with what happened at the clinic. He saw your sister and saw that she was very unwell. He spoke to you and said this treatment wasn’t suitable for your sister, she was so unwell,” said Mr Marrinan.
Mr O’Connor replied, “No, that’s untrue. I don’t remember any indi-
cation that she wasn’t going to be treated.”
Mr Marrinan put it to the witness that he had gone to “extraordinary” lengths to transport his sister to Kil- laloe and was “insistent” that she be treated, but he denied this.
“All I was trying to do was save my sister. All I was interested in doing was saving her life,” he said.
Mr Marrinan told the court that Dr Porter, who administered the treat- ment, was no longer in the jurisdic- tion. “He has left the country,” he revealed.
Mr Marrinan asked the witness did Mr Carmody promise him that his sister would be cured. He replied, “He never said that she would be cured. There were no guarantees.”