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Sunday World
4 days ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Family in shock: ‘We found out from a WhatsApp that my mother had died by assisted suicide'
Swiss clinic criticised by family of Cavan woman (58) with history of mental illness after they were left in dark over her death plan Or at least that is what her family have been told. None of them were with the 58-year-old as she slipped away at a clinic in Switzerland. In fact, news of Ms Slough's death reached her daughter, Megan Royal, back in Dublin by WhatsApp. Ms Royal was horrified to be informed that her mother's ashes would be posted to her. Now the family of the Cavan-based woman, who had a long history of mental illness and had tried to take her own life last year, want to know how somebody's life could be ended in such a manner. Maureen Slough Ms Slough travelled to the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland less than a month ago, on July 8, having told her family she was going to Lithuania with a friend. Her family became suspicious and contacted her. They say she promised to return. But Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mick Lynch, would later receive a message from a volunteer for the Pegasos group to inform them of her death. The family immediately set about trying to find out why they were not informed by the clinic in advance, and also questioned if Ms Slough's history of mental illness was assessed by the clinic first. The Pegasos group has said in response to questions from family and friends of Ms Slough, that it received a letter from Ms Slough's daughter Megan saying she was aware of her mother's wishes and accepted them. It also says it verified the letter through an email response to Ms Royal using an email address supplied by Ms Slough. Ms Royal has said she never wrote such a letter or verified any contact from Pegasos, and now her family think Ms Slough may have forged the 'letter' and verified it using an email address she created herself. Maureen Slough with her daughter Megan News in 90 Seconds - August 6th Pegasos was asked further questions by the Irish Independent as to why it did not ring Ms Royal, and whether it sought a mental health history for Ms Slough before her death. The Pegasos group responded that Ms Slough went through an extensive assessment process leading up to her death, including an independent psychiatric evaluation confirming she was of sound mind. Her brother Philip, a UK solicitor, has now written to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the UK, asking it to investigate the matter with Swiss authorities. In his letter, he said Pegasos did not rigorously follow its own policy to inform a family. He said while he understands Ms Slough represented to the clinic that this had been done by the letter purportedly written by Ms Royal, the clinic only sought confirmation through an email provided by Ms Slough. 'I am working on the assumption that my sister created this email and the clinic's procedures were woefully inadequate in verification,' he wrote. 'The Pegasos clinic has faced numerous criticisms in the UK for their practices with British nationals' 'It appears my sister provided Pegasos with letters of complaint to medical authorities in Éire in respect of bogus medical conditions, and that these documents were considered by Pegasos in support of her application. 'While I understand that Swiss law permits assisted dying, the Pegasos clinic has faced numerous criticisms in the UK for their practices with British nationals, and the circumstances in which my sister took her life are highly questionable.' In March, the BBC ran a report saying the Pegasos clinic allegedly helped a Welsh woman named Anne (51) end her life in January without informing her family, despite promising to change its practices following a previous case. It said that under similar circumstances, Alistair Hamilton (47) died in 2023, and the Pegasos clinic reportedly promised last year that it would always contact a person's family before carrying out an assisted death. However, Anne, whose death was first reported by ITV News, allegedly died without her family being informed. The BBC reported that Pegasos said it had attempted to phone and text Anne's brother John, but he insisted he had received no communication from the group. Dyfed-Powys Police in Wales told the BBC it is investigating her death. The Pegasos building Anne's family learnt of her intention to die only after goodbye letters posted to them from Switzerland arrived. Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mr Lynch, received a similar card, handwritten by her mother, in recent weeks. The grieving daughter said her mother had tried to take her own life last year following the deaths of two of her sisters, and was not in her right mind when she made her decision to go to Switzerland. Her latest granddaughter had been born just days earlier. 'They should not have allowed her to make that decision on her own. This group did not contact me, even though my mother had nominated me as next of kin. They waited until afterwards and then told me she had died listening to an Elvis Presley song,' Ms Royal said. She added that her mother had a difficult upbringing, having been brought to Ireland by her own mother and a man she had met while in a mental hospital in the UK. She said that despite years of trauma, her mother made a good life for herself and joined the civil service, being promoted to executive officer before retiring last year. Ms Royal said that her mother travelled alone to Switzerland and paid €15,000 to the Pegasos Swiss Association to facilitate her death two days later. 'I was actually talking to her that morning and she was full of life' 'She had told us she was going to Lithuania, but she had confided in two people that she had other plans, and after a series of concerned phone calls she said she would come home, but then we got the WhatsApp message to say she had died,' her daughter said. Mr Lynch said: 'I was actually talking to her that morning and she was full of life. She said she was after having her breakfast and she was going out to sit in the sun. Maybe she was heading off to that place. I still thought she was coming home.' The Pegasos group said Ms Slough went through an extensive assessment process leading up to her death, including an independent psychiatric evaluation confirming she was of sound mind. It said she was consistently forthcoming about her background and history, and provided thorough medical documentation, including from her pain-management consultant. It said she had stated repeatedly that she was in chronic pain that was unbearable to her, despite seeing the pain specialist. Pegasos logo Pegasos added that Ms Slough provided a letter from her daughter Megan, and in the letter she stated in writing that she confirmed she was fully informed regarding her mother's decision, and that she had been made fully aware of her intentions and the nature of the procedure she was seeking. It said Megan stated that she had the opportunity to discuss this matter with her mother and understood the reasons behind the decision, and the implications of her choice. Pegasos said Megan was contacted directly by email to confirm the authenticity of the letter, and that in the email, Megan confirmed that the letter was indeed hers, and that she was sorry she could not accompany her mother to Switzerland, and that she was not happy with her mother's decision but understood that she was in a great deal of pain. The letter and email are disputed by Ms Royal and Ms Slough's family. Friends of Ms Slough have been horrified by the manner of her death, and questioned everything about it, including the manner in which the Swiss group repatriates remains through the parcel post system. 'You get letters in the post, not people,' her friend Stephanie Daly said. Ms Slough's ashes have now arrived with her family and funeral arrangements are being made. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, you can call Samaritans free on 116123 or email jo@ or call Pieta on freephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
Irish Post
29-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Tesco continues Irish investment with €3.5m renovation of Cavan store
TESCO has unveiled a new look store in Co. Cavan which has undergone a €3.5m refurbishment. The 24,000 sq. ft. store in Virginia is the latest branch of the British supermarket chain's Irish operations to receive an overhaul. Located at the Virginia Shopping Centre, the branch is Tesco's third store in the county, with outlets already in Cavan Town and Bailieborough. It has been refitted and rebranded since Tesco acquired what was formerly McEvoy's supermarket earlier this year. 'The store has been modernised throughout with new shelving, floors, refrigeration, heating and lighting, as well as upgrades to back offices and colleague facilities,' a Tesco spokesperson confirmed. Tesco has unveiled a new-look store in Virginia, Co. Cavan 'The store also has a large new fresh food department, off-licence, bakery and Deposit Return Machine.' Store Manager Conor Tully will lead a team of 50 staff in Virginia, many of whom having moved over from the previous store. A host of Cavan-based brands can also be found on the shelves including customer favourites Barry John's sausages, Manor Hill Tarts, McCloskey's bread, Crust & Crumb pizzas, Moran's jam, and Champion Milk to name a few. 'The store has undergone a huge change with upgrades to every aspect of the shop enhancing the shopping experience for customers,' Tully said. 'We are delighted to have so many local producers stocked in store with plans to add more in the coming weeks and months.' Last week Tesco opened a new superstore in Fermoy, Co. Cork Speaking at the official reopening, Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Councillor John Paul Feeley said: 'We are delighted to see Tesco open in Virginia, giving a welcome boost to the local economy. It is a fantastic new store, offering a truly modern shopping experience, which the people of the town and surrounding areas can enjoy for many years to come.' Tesco Ireland CEO Geoff Byrne says he's delighted with the newly renovated store. 'This newly revamped store is a great addition to our store network and brings the total number of stores we now have across Ireland to 185," he said. "We're proud to be part of the local community in Virginia and want to make a positive impact going forward.' The British supermarket chain is continuing to invest in its Irish operations this year. Earlier this month it spent €5m on a major transformation of its store in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Last week the firm officially opened a new €20m superstore in Co. Cork. Located in Fermoy the 39,000 sq. ft. purpose-built store also saw the creation of 100 new jobs. See More: Cavan, Cork, Fermoy, Ireland, Tesco, Virgina
The Journal
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
UK urged to move faster on public contract ban on firms linked to Grenfell fire, including Kingspan
EFFORTS TO BAN companies linked to the Grenfell fire from UK public contracts – such as Kingspan – must speed up, a survivor of the fire has said ahead of the eighth anniversary. Bereaved and survivors of the blaze will gather tomorrow in west London for the annual commemoration of the disaster which claimed 72 lives. It is likely to be the final anniversary which takes place with the tower still standing in its current form, as demolition work could begin in September. Former tower resident Edward Daffarn, who had previously raised safety concerns and predicted a 'catastrophic event' at the tower seven months before the fire, said this year's memorial will be 'all the more poignant' for that reason. But Daffarn is hopeful a new documentary about the blaze, due to air on Netflix next week, will spur UK Government efforts to take action against companies linked to fire. He told the PA news agency: 'One thing that this documentary needs to do is put pressure on the Government to ensure that the companies involved are not able to access public funding, and I'm hoping that this documentary will accelerate that process.' Former tower resident Edward Daffarn had previously raised safety concerns Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The Cabinet office confirmed in February that seven companies were facing possible bans. This includes Cavan-based insulation firm Kingspan, cladding firm Arconic, former Celotex owners Saint-Gobain, fire inspectors Exova, design and build contractor Rydon, architect Studio E and subcontractor Harley Facades. Advertisement It is understood investigations were launched into all of them in March, looking into whether any engaged in professional misconduct for the purposes of the Procurement Act 2023, potentially leading them to be debarred from public contracts. No timeline has been given for how long it might be before outcomes are known. A Kingspan source last year told The Journal that it's understood such public contracts are of little significance to the firm. The final Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, published in September, concluded victims, bereaved and survivors were 'badly failed' through incompetence, dishonesty and greed. The west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the 'systematic dishonesty' of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, inquiry chairman Martin Moore-Bick said. He called out 'deliberate and sustained' manipulation of fire-safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market. Daffarn said the documentary will be the first 'that truly exposes and brings into people's living rooms' the 'cowardice of the corporates and how profit was put before people'. He said: 'I hope that people who watch the documentary come to understand that although Grenfell happened eight years ago, there's a lot that still hasn't been resolved and, as a consequence, the companies involved with Grenfell just seem to want to brush everything under the carpet and carry on making money. 'And I think the documentary clearly exposes how little these companies and individuals have been held to account for their roles in Grenfell.' On UK Government efforts, which Keir Starmer first announced last September, to debar companies, Daffarn said the process is 'too slow' and bereaved and survivors are 'still waiting' for companies to face consequences. He said anyone left angered by the documentary could avoid buying products from companies criticised in the report to 'make sure that those companies understand that there is a consequence of their actions'. Read Next Related Reads Grenfell inquiry finds Kingspan 'cynically exploited' unsuspecting market with 'false' safety claims Grenfell Tower report criticises 'decades of failure' by UK Government and takes aim at Kingspan Bereaved and survivors have long campaigned for criminal charges to be brought over the disaster. Police and prosecutors have previously said investigators would need until the end of 2025 to complete their inquiry, with final decisions on potential criminal charges by the end of 2026. The near 10-year wait for justice has been described by families as 'unbearable'. The decision to bring the tower block down was confirmed earlier this year and prompted mixed reaction, with some people feeling their views had not been properly taken into consideration. Sharing his own opinion, and acknowledging the difficulty others feel in seeing the tower regularly, Daffarn said: 'I think the anniversary is made all the more poignant by the fact that this is the last time that we will meet with the tower in situ. 'We haven't got justice yet. It feels wrong to be pulling the tower down while so much remains unresolved.' The UK Government said while some had hoped the building could remain in place as a reminder of what happened, others had reported this would be 'too painful'. The demolition process is expected to take around two years. A UK Government spokesperson said: 'This government remains committed to ensuring that what happened at Grenfell is never forgotten, and to delivering the change needed so it can never happen again.'
Irish Examiner
06-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Animal magnetism: How to use sculpture to create a garden focal point
When we think about creating beautiful outdoor spaces, our minds often jump to colour schemes, planting plans, or hard landscaping. But one of the most powerful tools in a garden designer's toolbox is something quite simple: the focal point. A garden, like a good painting, benefits enormously from a strong composition. And every good composition needs something to draw the eye, a centrepiece that invites you in and gives meaning to the space around it. It could be a tree, a water feature, or a well-placed bench. But increasingly, I'm drawn to the character and charm of sculpture, especially when it speaks to our landscape, our heritage, and our imagination. Over the years, I have found that one of the most exciting sources for this kind of focal point is local auction houses. Sourcing garden focal points from auction houses ensures your piece of statuary is unique, not forgetting often highly collectable, sustainable and durable within your garden space. One particular auction that comes to mind is the annual Summer Garden Sale, hosted by Cavan-based Victor Mee Auctions. Victor Mee's yearly garden auction has become something of a fixture on the calendar for designers, collectors, and garden lovers alike. And for good reason, as the catalogue is always full of personality, ranging from grand classical pieces to the delightfully unexpected smaller statues and useful garden items. This year, there's a particularly enchanting theme running through the sculptural line-up: traditional Irish woodland and farm animals. We're talking everything from a proud parade of sheep and a pair of pigs mid-snuffle to a flurry of hares in full motion. There are geese, life-sized horses, and even a dramatic sculpture of a horse and jockey clearing a fence, all of which are full of energy and storytelling potential. These garden focal points do more than simply decorate a space. They become part of the garden's soul. Animal sculptures, in particular, have a unique ability to connect us with the land. They reflect the rhythms of Irish life, from the fields to the farms, and they carry with them a sense of nostalgia and folklore. A bronze hare mid-leap can remind us of the flash of movement through a dewy meadow. A grouping of cast-iron sheep brings a sense of calm and familiarity, especially in more urban settings. And a pair of pigs can make even the most formal garden feel grounded and playful. These kinds of focal points do something quite magical in a garden. They catch the eye, spark curiosity, and bring humour and heart into the space. They give you a second to pause, and for me, that's what a great garden is all about. It's not just about plants and paving, which of course are so important, but it's also about creating a place that draws you in and asks you to look again. The beauty of a piece from auction houses like Victor Mee's Garden Sale is in its individuality. Every item is chosen with care, and in Victor Mee's case, many items were held back throughout the year to make this sale a true event. Whether it's a traditional stone urn, a whimsical bronze fox, or a reclaimed wrought-iron bench, each item brings a distinct voice to the garden. And when you build your design around a piece with this kind of presence, the rest of the garden naturally falls into rhythm. It's a trend I'm seeing more and more — garden owners wanting not just style, but story. They want their outdoor spaces to reflect who they are and where they come from. Of course, placing a sculpture well is just as important as choosing the right one. Think about framing it with planting, whether that be tall grasses for movement, wildflowers for contrast, or clipped hedging for formality. Let it surprise people around a corner or make it the centrepiece of your view from the kitchen window. A garden focal point doesn't need to be big to be bold, it's about presence, not size. It should invite interaction, whether that's contemplation, a smile, or even a selfie! The Victor Mee Summer Garden Sale doesn't just offer antiques and oddities; it offers the chance to bring a piece of the story into your space. So this summer, if you're thinking of refreshing your garden or starting from scratch, begin with the focal point. Let it be something that brings joy, sparks a memory, or simply makes you stop and smile. Because that, to me, is what gardening is all about. Victor Mee Auctions' annual Summer Garden Sale will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10 and 11, live and online from the Co Cavan family-run auction house. Public viewing will take place on location at Victor Mee Auctions, Cavan auction rooms on June 7 and 8 from 12pm-5pm and on June 9 from 10am-5pm. Read More Six ways to use mirrors in your garden or outdoor space
