A Cork teenager who underwent a life-threatening operation as a toddler because of a tumour on his spine has died. Anthony Hurley (15), of Glanmire, Cork, died in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Almost 15 years ago a special fund was set up in Cork to allow him to be taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham for a 12-hour operation to remove the tumour from his spinal cord.
Both his mother, Jacqueline, and his father, Michael, who died last year, were present at the hospital during the operation. However, because of complications in Cork the trust fund money was not transferred to Nottingham on time, and the Irish community in the city organised a collection. Last night his mother said she would not speak about the death but family friends said she was devastated.