Sir, – On July 12th, 1953, Frank Fahy, a native of Glanatallin, Co Galway, died at his Dublin home. He had served as ceann comhairle of the Dáil from 1933 until 1951. He was regarded as “a kindly man, ever helpful and courteous”. He had taken part in the fight for Irish freedom but not the Civil War. He expended great time and energy in the hope of achieving a better Ireland for all.
Just a few days ago Frank’s 79-year-old grandnephew drove his wife Mary, of the same age, to a large Dublin hospital as her potassium levels were very dangerously low. There was no bed for her so she was put sitting on a chair and attended to there.
Later during the long night a nurse brought a trolley beside the sick woman and said she would soon return to place her on it. But no such luck. Another member of staff arrived and went off with the trolley. So a chair it was for the entire night.
But there is more. When the elderly couple, who have a disability parking disc, arrived in a great hurry at the hospital they parked in a staff disability bay because all of the emergency bays were occupied, primarily by ambulances.
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When the owner returned to his car, 13 minutes later, he found that it had been clamped. I conclude from that action that an elderly person in grave danger of death does not have the priority which both morally and medically should be their absolute right.
On payment of the €120 fine he was set free. One is tempted to ask, paraphrasing, WB Yeats: was it for this that Frank Fahy and many others put their lives in mortal danger as they fought for an Ireland where all would be treated with fairness and dignity?
Or is their dream of a better and more caring country for all forever dead and gone? – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GLEESON,
Clasheen,
Killarney,
Co Kerry
