Dr. Colm Henry:

At no time in that correspondence was it said to me. I quote from what Professor Flannelly said to me in one letter, "If doubt exists that a lady's disease might have been detected at an earlier time or if she had required more intensive treatment than she otherwise might have needed, it is our view that women should be made aware of this rather than simply filing a note". Later on in that letter to me, she described where she herself had informed women and said it was a very difficult process. Dr. Hickey later wrote to her, copying me in, saying he was dissatisfied with the process but he decided himself to proceed and tell women. At no stage was it stated that women were not being told. The issue was that a consultant was unhappy that individual clinicians were being asked to do this.