Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod this week

A look at news from around Ireland

Ryanair sexy stewardess ad campaign is banned by British authorities

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Assisted Suicide Possible

A DONEGAL woman and her partner are considering the option of assisted suicide to end her suffering from the worsening effects of Multiple Sclerosis.

Marie Fleming, 59, who lives in Arklow, Co. Wicklow, says she wants to die if her condition deteriorates further. And her partner of 20 years, Tom Curran, said he will help her end her life.

“I love Marie, and part of that love says to me it’s her right to have the option to die, and if nobody else is prepared to give her that option then my love for her means I have that job to do,” said

Curran who is coordinator with the pro-euthanasia group Exit International.

Donegal based suicide counselor Father James Sweeney said he would not be encouraging anyone to go down the road of assisted suicide.

Describing it as a “very complex and delicate” area, he said such a move could “easily open the floodgates” where people with severe health difficulties were concerned.

“It could establish a precedent where people with, say, painful bowel cancer could opt for taking their own life,” he said.

Donegal Democrat

Living on Nothing

A DUBLIN mother who has suffered three strokes broke down in tears as she asked, "Does the state just want me to die?"

Marie Butler, 58, from West Dublin claims she has waited over a year to receive her first disability allowance and is "frightened, frozen and hungry" in her own home.

The mother of one has been out of work for several months, having suffered her third stroke in July.
She has poor movement in the right side of her face and is unable to lift things due to a lack of strength in her fingers and arms.

However, despite her deteriorating condition, Butler claims she has yet to secure disability allowance which has "driven my family to poverty."

The former cleaner says she has been living without heating for several weeks, which she says leaves her terrified to go to bed each night.

One day last week, she had just three slices of bread in the house which had to last her and her son all week.

"I've never been at such a low point in my life. I've worked all my life but to show you my bare food cupboards and my €2 bank balance, things just can't get any worse,” she said.

“I've sent in all my forms to get disability allowance and I keep getting told there's a delay."

She added: "The worst part of it all is that we cannot afford heat. I'm out of work and relying on a measly sick payment each week. I'm behind in bills.”

The Department of Social Welfare refused to comment.

Evening Herald

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