asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that Mrs. Frank Ferran was not officially informed of the illness of her husband, Dr. Frank Ferran; and, if so, can he state why official intimation of her husband's serious condition was not sent to Mrs. Ferran; whether a consultant was called to see him; and further, whether an eminent physician, desired by Dr. Ferran's friends, was refused permission to see Dr. Ferran.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - LATE DR. FERRAN'S ILLNESS.
PADRAIG Mac ARTAIN
Dr. Ferran's illness dated from the 4th June. Dr. O'Kelly, brother-in-law of the late Dr. Ferran, was officially informed by telephone on the 8th June that the latter was seriously, but not dangerously, ill. This was considered the most expeditious way of notifying Mrs. Ferran. It was not considered necessary to summon an outside consultant. Dr. Ferran was in the hands of the senior medical officer at the Curragh, a surgical specialist, and one other medical officer. I am not aware that permission was refused for an eminent physician to see Dr. Ferran. Dr. O'Carroll, of Fitzwilliam Square, was, in fact, present for a few hours before Dr. Ferran died at 1.30 a.m. on the 10th June, and he expressed the opinion to Mrs. Ferran, in the presence of the medical officer of the Curragh Military Hospital that absolutely nothing had been left undone to save Dr. Ferran's life.