A Dingle woman who had taken a case against the HSE over cervical smear tests has been laid to rest.
73-year-old Joan Lucey from Cooleen, Dingle, passed away on Friday night in her family home, hours after it was agreed that mediation in her case would begin this week.
Joan Lucey, a retired nurse, had brought a case against the HSE, Clinical Pathology Laboratories Incorporated, and MedLab Pathology Ltd over alleged misreading or misinterpretation or misreporting of her cervical smears taken in February and August 2011.
Mrs Lucey’s legal team had pleaded in court twice for mediation to begin for their client who was terminally ill.
A private family funeral took place this afternoon for Joan Lucey in St Mary's Church in Dingle.
Speaking during the funeral mass, her son Séan described her as a doting and loving wife to his late father Robbie Lucey, and that together, they were a gregarious and fun-loving couple.
He said family was at the centre of her world, and that she was loving, caring, supporting and inspiring as a mother.
He added that his mother was brave and courageous to the last, that she'll be missed beyond belief and long remembered.
Parish priest of Dingle, Fr Michael Moynihan, added that Joan Lucey was a fighter in the face of injustice.
Speaking to Radio Kerry earlier, he described her as a woman who loved her family a lot and that love was returned many times in return.
He listed the three activities that she most enjoyed.
Joan Lucey was laid to rest this afternoon in St Brendan's Cemetery in Dingle.
