Tributes have come out nationally following the passing of prominent cancer campaigner Lynsey Bennett.
The 34-year-old passed away at her Longford home on Thursday surrounded by her family and friends. She was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2017 in the midst of the Cervical Check scandal, eventually securing a win in her High Court action regarding the misreading of her results.
Lynsey was vocal in the media about her battle with terminal illness. The mother of two vowed to fight the condition and embrace the life she had left. The activist, who had previously worked as a model, appeared on an episode of First Dates Ireland in 2020.
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Her friend Una Healy took to Instagram to pay a touching tribute to the activist and shared her sympathies with Lynsey’s family. The singer shared a photo of her and Lynsey on a trip the pair had gone on with their children to Disneyland Paris.
Una wrote: “Life is so precious and you lived and loved it to the fullest. Rest in peace my beautiful friend. My thoughts are with your family and friends, especially your babies Zoe and Hailee.”
Another person wrote: "Overwhelmed with emotions at the shock of learning of the passing of the beautiful person and mother that was #LynseyBennett . While her pain ends today it only begins for those who loved her most, my thoughts are especially with her 2 little girls."
Reporter Frank Greaney added: "Devastated to hear that Lynsey Bennett (34) has passed away. She, like so many other brave women, brought the horror of the CervicalCheck scandal home to us all. In the end, all she cared about was securing her daughters’ future. She should have been able to watch them grow."
Another friend said: "RIP my girl may you get the best bed in heaven!! such a strong girl fighting right till the end, will be lost without your positive chats and advice will miss seeing this smile and having an aul gossip."
Lynsey had recently travelled to Mexico to undergo experimental treatment for her cancer. The campaigner remained active on social media and posted an update about her health as recently as September.
She told RTE in the aftermath of her High Court action that she would continue to fight her condition but heartbreakingly admitted that she might not have much time left.
She is survived by her 14 and 9 year old daughters as well as her sisters, father, extended family and wide circle of friends. Her funeral service will take place at 12pm on Monday in St John’s Church, Longford.
Lynsey was one of hundreds of women affected by inaccurate test results from Cervical Check. The controversy first came to light in 2018 after prominent cancer advocate Vicky Phelan sued the HSE for false test results. The testing errors significantly delayed cancer treatment for hundreds of Irish women.
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