Tag Archives: Marie Fleming

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Tom Curran, husband of the late right-to-die campaigner Marie Fleming, asking a question at the Tonight With Vincent Browne debate in Wicklow

The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne is touring the country, holding debates in Ireland’s 40 constituencies and, last night, the Wicklow debate, which involved Independent TDs Stephen Donnelly and Billy Timmins, was broadcast.

Mr Timmins lost his Fine Gael parliamentary party whip, along with Lucinda Creighton and others, after he voted against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.

He has yet to say whether he will be joining Ms Creighton in her new party.

At the end of last night’s debate, Vincent took questions – or ‘rants’ as he called them – from members of the audience.

Tom Curran, whose wife Marie Fleming passed away in December 2013 after her unsuccessful right-to-die challenge in Supreme Court in April 2013, asked a question.

Tom Curran: “[This is] not a rant, it’s a very simple question for the two…”

Vincent Browne: “Give your name and affiliation.”

Curran: “Tom Curran, I am the partner of the late Marie Fleming and I’m a healthcare activist. During the court case, the historic court case that Marie took to the Supreme Court, in the judgement in that case, the Chief Justice made it clear that the Oireachtas had the power to bring in legislation to effect assisted dying. The last poll that was taken on this issue, in fact was done by TV3 and 80% of the people that were polled was in favour of assisted dying for the terminally ill which, to me, is a mandate. I’ve been working for the last 18 months with four barristers and a number of healthcare professionals on drafting a Bill. That Bill will be presented in the Dáil in the near future – will the two deputies support it? And will you, representing the Government, give your view on what the Government parties will do?”

Stephen Donnelly: “Vincent.”

Vincent Browne: “OK, very briefly, very briefly.”

Donnelly: “The very brief answer is, Tom, yes. When it happened I raised it directly with the Taoiseach in the chamber and not only will I be voting for your Bill but I will be supporting it wholeheartedly.”

Browne: “Billy.”

Billy Timmins: “The answer I’d like, I’m not sure, I honestly really don’t know, Tom. I know your difficult circumstances and difficult situation and one can certainly understand the difficulties that are there. I would actually, it’s an issue I, I’m open on and I’ve an open mind on it. And it’s not a case of being afraid of coming down on one side or the other, it’s something I really need to look at, look at the content, the contents and the context of the Bill and illicit other views on it but I will come back to you and tell you certainly before the Bill actually comes into the Dáil what my position is going to be.”

Watch back here – go to 1.19.34

marieTom donnellyy

(From top: Tom Curran and Marie Fleming, and Stephen Donnelly in the Dáil this morning)

In light of Gail O’Rorke being charged with assisting the suicide of another woman yesterday, Independent TD Stephen Donnelly spoke about the subject of assisted suicide in Leaders’ Questions this morning, which were being taken by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

Mr Donnelly recalled the recent case of former UCD lecturer and MS sufferer Marie Fleming, 58, who went to the Supreme Court seeking permission to be allowed die with the help of her partner Tom Curran at a time of her choosing, because she no longer had the use of her limbs and was incapable of taking her life on her own. The Supreme Court ruled the Constitution doesn’t include a right to suicide or to organise someone’s death.

Ms Fleming and Mr Curran took the case because, under Irish law, Mr Curran could face a 14-year sentence for helping his wife die.

This morning, Mr Donnelly told the Dáil that he spoke to Mr Curran this morning.

Stephen Donnelly: “I spoke with Tom this morning, Tánaiste and he said that Marie’s condition has worsened since the Supreme Court case. He told me that Marie is now completely immobile, other than her mouth. He told me that Marie is in constant pain and the last time they tried to adjust her pain medication, to deal with the increasing pain, she lapsed into a coma so they can’t do that any more. Marie’s ability to swallow is getting worse, making it increasingly difficult for her to eat. Tom said, Tánaiste, that Marie wants to live, that she has a lot of reasons to live. But her ability to eat may deteriorate and Marie has said that she is adamant that she won’t use artificial feeding. In that case, under the current legislation, Marie Fleming would starve to death. I asked Tom this morning what question would Marie put to you, and I think indeed to all of us in the Oireachtas, and he told me that she would ask us the following: ‘Come and live my life for 24 hours and see if you think helping me to die should be a crime. Come and spend 24 hours in my house and see what you think’. He said Marie would ask all of us to protect her family, that she would ask us at Oireachtas to change the law so that she could died on her own terms without the threat of Tom Curran spending 14 years in prison.”

Previously: Marie Fleming on Broadsheet

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Tom Curran (Top)  arriving at the Four Courts, Dublin, this morning to hear his partner Marie Fleming’s Supreme Court appeal to the decision that defends the judgment to uphold the ban on assisted suicide.

Previously: Dignity

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

Marie Fleming arriving at the High Court, Dublin this morning with her partner and full-time carer Tom Curran.

“Her courage in adversity is both humbling and inspiring. She was in many ways the most remarkable witness which any member of this court has ever been privileged to encounter.”

Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns

 

High Court Rules Against Challenge To Ban On Assisted Suicide In landmark case (RTE)

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)