Parents of boy, 9, who died while waiting for life-saving op to take to Dublin streets in protest & make march plea

The Irish Sun

3 days ago

A DEMONSTRATION march is to be held in Dublin city in memory of Harvey Morrison Sherratt.
The youngster sadly died from a sudden illness last month after he had waited several years for spinal surgery.
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Stephen Morrison with his son Harvey, who sadly died last month
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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Harvey had waited seven years for his spinal surgery
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A protest in the capital is due to be held in Harvey's memory
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
The protest, which will also highlight the prolonged children's spinal surgery waiting lists scandal, is due to start at 2pm on August 23, and will run from the Garden of Remembrance to Customs House Quay.
Harvey's parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, who both fought tirelessly for the nine-year-old's scoliosis surgery to correct a severe curvature in his spine, are to attend the demo, which is expected to be one of the biggest ever in the capital.
In a post on X, Gillian said: 'We would appreciate if you all could join us as we march in protest for #JusticeForHarvey."
She previously said she and her husband 'will not stop' campaigning for adequate healthcare for children, particularly for those who urgently require it.
She vowed: 'We're not going to go away.'
Asked what she wanted Harvey's legacy to be, Ms Sherratt replied: 'It literally should be, for these children to get the care that they are entitled to, and that they bloody deserve.'
Disability rights campaigner, Bernard Mulvany, opened a GoFundMe account to raise funds to stage the 'Justice For Harvey' march.
He said: 'Any outstanding funds (will be) given over to Harvey's family for them to administrate. Please help us to celebrate Harvey's life and to shine a light on how he and many other children in our society are being failed.'
Gillian Sherratt called on the Taoiseach Micheal Martin to 'recall the Dail' from its summer recess early, to debate the ongoing crisis in children's spinal surgery.
Harvey's parents also want the Fianna Fail leader to support their call for a public inquiry into governance of orthopaedic services at CHI.
Harvey Sherratt's parents branded Taoiseach's comment on case 'slap in face'
The parents have revealed that after calling for the resignation of Tanaiste Simon Harris, the Fine Gael leader has since promised to meet the couple.
In 2017, when he was serving as Health Minister, Tanaiste Harris said he was 'ashamed' of the prolonged waiting lists, and he pledged that 'no child' would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery.
Harvey waited seven years for his spinal surgery, including 33 months on and off an active waiting list.
Despite Deputy Harris's failed 2017 health vow, as well as his successors - ex-Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Donnelly and current health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill - also pledging to tackle the scoliosis scandal, dozens of children continue to wait more than four months for spinal surgery.
"We're not going to go away.'
Gillian Sherratt
Near the end, wheelchair-bound Harvey, from Clondalkin, Dublin, could no longer sit for any long periods in his chair, as scoliosis twisted his ribcage, putting pressure on his heart and lungs.
In February 2024, seventeen months prior to Harvey's death, his father explained that the curvature on his son's spine had extended so much that he was at increased risk of death unless he received a timely surgical intervention.
Desperate to highlight his son's ordeal then, Mr Sherratt pleaded for his son's surgery and said: 'Harvey will die. He absolutely needs the surgery.'
'NOT GOOD ENOUGH'
Six months later, in August 2024, Harvey's mother discovered that despite their public calls for Harvey's surgery, her deteriorating son was inexplicably no longer on CHI's active surgery waiting list.
At the time, Taoiseach Martin described Harvey's disappearance from the waiting list without his parents consent or knowledge as 'shocking' and 'not good enough'.
He also said CHI should 'apologise' to Harvey's family 'and arrange a surgery'.
TRAGIC PASSING
Harvey eventually had his spinal surgery in December 2024. But Gillian said that by the time Harvey actually had his surgery, his spinal curve was so extended it could not be fully corrected.
The boy's health suddenly deteriorated two and half weeks ago and he died on July 29.
According to latest data published by CHI, 74 children were waiting longer than four months for spinal surgery, as of the end of July.
A further 57 children were waiting up to three months. One child was waiting more than four years.
Out of a total of 231 children waiting for spinal surgery nationally, 131 children were on CHI's 'active' surgery waiting list, previously occupied by Harvey Sherratt before his name disappeared from the list without explanation.