SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has written to Tánaiste Simon Harris urging him to meet the parents of child who died after waiting years for scoliosis surgery. 

The parents of Harvey Sherratt, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, had long campaigned for treatment for their son.

It was revealed earlier this year that Harvey had been removed from Children’s Health Ireland’s (CHI’s) urgent scoliosis surgery waiting list, without his family being informed, his parents claimed.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said at the time that an apology should be issued by Children’s Health Ireland to the family of the young boy, describing the incident as “shocking”. 

Harvey’s mother has since confirmed that after Harvey’s story hit the headlines, her son did get his surgery at the end of November last year.

However, Harvey sadly passed away at the end of July.

Harvey’s cause of death is still unknown, his mother confirmed in a post on social media.

She said the delays in getting his surgery had an enormous impact on his quality of life and general wellbeing for the last number of years.

Harvey’s parents have since criticised the government, in particular the Tánaiste, stating that they expected to have a meeting with Harris after their case was raised in the Dáil.

They have also called for Harris to resign.

Meeting with the family

Asked yesterday why no meeting took place with the family, Harris said: “When Harvey’s case was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the Department of Health and CHI and sought additional clinical consultations, which I believe did take place.”

“I was always of the view that it was very important that any medical interventions were, of course, clinician-led.”

He added that he said on the floor of the Dáil that he “very, very clearly” wanted decisions to be made by clinicians about the suitability for surgery rather than by politicians, indicating there was no commitment given for a meeting with the family.

“And that’s what happened. And I believe there was a further clinical consultation, but I think CHI should be in a position to engage further,” he said.

The Sinn Féin leader claimed on X today that Harris assured her that he would meet with Harvey’s parents “to discuss their son’s urgent situation”.

“That meeting never took place. The state completely failed this bravest, strongest and most courageous boy and his family,” said McDonald.

She said Harris must now “urgently” meet with Harvey’s parents.

Simon Harris speaking to the media about Harvey's case yesterday. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Aontú leader Peadar Toíbín has also criticised the Tánaiste, calling for him to resign over the handling of Harvey’s case. 

Toíbín said in a social media post yesterday that his party had called on Harris to meet with the family, stating that as he did not meet with Harvey’s parents, and “for many other reasons, Simon Harris should not be Tánaiste” and should resign. 

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“No minister who presided over this situation should remain in office,” said Toíbín 

When Toíbín raised the case with Harris in the Dáil last year, Harris confirmed that he had received correspondence from Harvey’s mother and had responded.

He told the Dáil at the time that he had spoken to the chief executive of the HSE and the Minister for Health on the matter.

“The suffering of any child is something nobody wishes to see and I certainly do not wish to see it,” Harris said.

He said it was essential that a clinical appointment be arranged for Harvey, “because it is a clinical matter as to whether surgery is the best way to proceed or whether there is a more appropriate way of providing care”.

He added that he was in a position to facilitate a further clinical appointment, stating he had reached out by letter to Harvey’s parents. 

Harvey is one of hundreds of children waiting years for surgery. 

Much of the political focus surrounding the issue follows a pledge made in 2017 by Harris, who was then-health minister, that no child would wait longer than four months for their scoliosis surgery in Ireland.