President leads tributes to cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan who has died at the age of 48

Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan has died at the age of 48.

She died in the early hours of this morning at Milford Hospice in Limerick.

Mother to two, Vicky who was born in Waterford and lived in Limerick was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014.

President Michael D Higgins led the tributes this morning saying it was with the "deepest sense of sadness that people across Ireland and beyond will have heard of the death of Vicky Phelan."

"All of us who had the privilege of meeting Vicky will have been struck by the powerful inner strength and dignity with which she not only faced her own illness, but with the sense of commitment to the public good and the rights of others with which she campaigned.

"Vicky, in all of this, made an enormous contribution to Irish society. Thanks to her tireless efforts, despite the terrible personal toll she herself had to carry, so many women’s lives have been protected, and will be protected in the future.

"She will be deeply missed, by all of those who were in awe of her courage, her resilience, offered not only to women but to all of us in Ireland.

"She will of course be missed above all by those closest to her. May I express my deepest condolences to Vicky’s parents Gaby and John, her husband Jim, her children Amelia and Darragh, and to all of her family and friends.”

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Ms Phelan was a woman "who stood up for the women of Ireland, but not just the women of Ireland but women globally".

In 2018, Vicky settled a High Court action for €2.5m with the US laboratory company that had tested her smears, without admission of liability.

Smear tests in 2011 showed no abnormalities, before she was diagnosed three years later. An internal CervicalCheck audit found the original smear check result to be wrong.

Her campaigning and advocacy for women who suffered as a result of botched testing led to the Scally Independent investigation and 2018 report into the controversy. It also led to the establishment of the 221+ support group and a State apology.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne programme, Dr Gabriel Scally said that Ms Phelan stood up for all of the women in Ireland, adding that he was privileged to have worked with her on the inquiry.

Dr Scally added: "In years to come, she will be regarded as having a seminal influence on healthcare in Ireland and changing it towards a much more patient, sensitive and respectful system."

Vicky's memoir, Overcoming, was An Post Book of the Year, while a documentary of her life called 'Vicky' was screened recently.

Averil Power, CEO, Irish Cancer Society said: “Today it is no small understatement to say we are poorer for the loss of Vicky Phelan, but truly richer as a nation for the contribution she so generously made to Irish life.

“Vicky refused to be silent in the face of great personal challenge and the issues she brought to light changed the course of history for women in Ireland. Without her courage and her determination, others would not have known the truth behind the Cervical Check failings.

“Despite her own experience Vicky was a staunch champion of screening and tirelessly encouraged others to take up the offer when it was their turn. Unselfishly – and true to her trademark sense of fairness and conviction – it is the promotion of screening that is such an important part of Vicky’s legacy, which will go on to save many lives.