Write a comment
Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty presented a petition signed by more than 6,500 people to the Assembly last week, calling for life-saving CAR-T cancer treatment to be made available closer to home. The campaign has been driven by the experience of Catherine Sherry from Ballymoyer, who travelled to London for treatment, leaving behind her husband, three young sons and wider family. Catherine died at King’s College Hospital in 2025 while recovering from CAR-T treatment.
Speaking ahead of presenting the petition, Mr McNulty said: “Catherine Sherry’s story has put a human face on this issue. She had to leave her three young sons and wider family behind to travel to London for treatment. Tragically, she never made it home.
“What is particularly moving is that the Sherry and Garvey families, despite their devastating loss, have continued to campaign so that another family does not have to endure what they experienced. They have turned their grief into a determination to make things right.”
He said the number of signatures showed the strength of feeling on the issue.
“6,500 signatures is a powerful message that people believe no family should have to be pulled apart to access life-saving cancer treatment.”
Mr McNulty said action was owed to the family.
“We owe it to Catherine and her family to act. Patients should not have to leave this island to access potentially life-saving treatment.
“The Executive must urgently commission a CAR-T service here in Northern Ireland, while immediately working with the Irish Government to establish all-island access in the interim.
“6,500 people are standing with the Sherry and Garvey families. I am asking the Executive to stand with them too.”
