Christina Finn reports from County Cork

A CORK MOTHER whose daughter has cerebral palsy, a dysplastic hip, twisted femur and retroverted pelvis has confronted Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Fianna Fáil think-in today.  

Antoinette Burke, based in Cobh, appealed for help from the Taoiseach, stating that she first made contact with Martin’s office back in 2010.

She said she has also reached out to Tánaiste Simon Harris and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. 

In an emotional interaction, which lasted close to ten minutes with the Taoiseach in Douglas this morning, Burke said she felt ignored by the government.

Outlining her daughter Katie’s case and delayed surgery, she told Martin “this is your legacy”. 

Antoinette Burke says she raised her daughter Katie Byrne’s case with Michael Martin’s office back in 2010 but has not heard back. She says she has reached out to Tanaiste Simon Harris and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill also. pic.twitter.com/NcqpQIt9f5

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) September 15, 2025

“I need [help], Katie needs help,” she told Martin, stating that she has fighting for surgery for her daughter for 15 years.

Burke asked why there is a health minister if they cannot direct the HSE to carry out the surgery needed. 

“My daughter is suffering, she is in pain,” said Burke, who added that she is trying to raise €300,000 to cover the cost of the surgery needed by her 18-year-old daughter. 

Burke claims surgery should have been carried out on her daughter as a child, but said now, the surgery she needs can only be carried out in the US. 

The Taoiseach said he would have to speak to the consultants as to why they decided not to carry out surgery.

“Ministers can’t direct surgeons against their judgement,” he told Burke, but said he would engage with her on the matter, stating he would also speak to her and clinicians about the treatment abroad scheme. 

The interaction ended amicably with the Taoiseach shaking Burke’s hand. 

Antoinette speaks about her daughter Katie and how she wants to be an occupational therapist so she can help others. pic.twitter.com/jamlJUONTy

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) September 15, 2025

Speaking after his interaction, the Taoiseach said the government is doing everything it possibly can on all fronts in relation to improve services for children in need of hip surgeries.

Martin said from that note presented to him about Katie’s case, the clinicians have said that surgery was not the right course of action and they either refused or took a decision not to do it on clinical grounds.

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“I would have to explore that further with the consultants concerned. It’s a very difficult case for a mother, and obviously, the struggle and the journey for that family has been a long one,” said the Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin meeting Antoinette Burke in Cork Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“Families and mothers want the best for their child,” said Martin. 

“I understand that fully and mothers and fathers will do everything for their child, and that means very difficult engagements with consultants and clinicians,” he added.

“If surgeons believe that they can’t do it [surgery] here, there is a treatment abroad scheme there, and I’ve often referred parents myself through the treatment abroad scheme, and it has been effective. But again, it needs sign off from national clinicians before you can be treated abroad under the treatment abroad scheme.

“I always say to professionals and to all of us here that we have to always try and look at these cases through the prism of the family and the mother and father and the child,” he said.

Speaking to the media, Burke said her daughter Katie has just done her Leaving Certificate and wants to be an occupational therapist so she can help others like herself.