Shane Fleming

Today brings not just sadness but an overwhelming anger upon learning about the passing of Dr. Martin Feeley, who paid the price for daring to critique Ireland's Covid response. His public opposition to lockdowns from within the HSE cost him his job, a grim testament to the stifling of dissent and anybody who dared suggest NPHET and the government were getting it wrong. Martin, a vocal advocate like many of us, has now been vindicated by the knowledge we now have and numerous published papers on lockdowns and their usefulness show they made little or no difference. Those within the HSE culpable for coercing Martin's resignation due to his qualified Covid opinion should hang their heads in shame and feel so guilty on his passing. A seasoned vascular surgeon with a wealth of experience, Martin held the prestigious diploma of Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons and served as the clinical director at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital. His devotion to his patients was unwavering, yet his final years were tarnished by the state and those audacious enough to challenge his seasoned and professional insights into our handling of the Covid crisis. Martin passionately argued that our efforts were misdirected, focusing on protecting those not truly at risk from severe consequences of Covid while neglecting the higher-risk elderly population. He emphatically stated that, for individuals under 70, Covid was no more formidable than the flu. "I started looking at the risk-benefit of the whole exercise, and to me, it didn't weigh up at all. Therefore, I considered the measures draconian," he declared. Martin deserves admiration as a professional who spoke out when others in his field opted for silence, perhaps out of fear of disrupting the prevailing narrative. Those responsible for his forced resignation from the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group must publicly apologise for besmirching his reputation in the years leading up to his untimely passing. In an interview i conducted just a few months ago, Martin's unwavering commitment to truth and transparency shines through. Rest in peace, Dr. Martin Feeley, your legacy of courage and conviction will endure. Rest In Peace Martin Listen to the Interview here: niallboylan.com/podcast/iall…