Many, many people around the country are now calling for Simon Harris to resign after little Harvey Morrison Sherratt sadly passed away.
Harris spoke with the child’s mother on Wednesday and his representative claims that he will meet with the boy’s parents in the near future, but no date has been set.
Tánaiste Simon Harris is facing intense public backlash and growing demands for his resignation following the tragic death of 9-yr-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who waited seven years for scoliosis surgery. The hashtag #JusticeForHarvey has surged across social media platforms, with many accusing Harris, a former health minister, of failing to deliver on promises made to Harvey’s family.
Harvey, described by his parents Gillian and Stephen as a “little rockstar,” suffered severe pain and breathing difficulties due to a life-threatening 130-degree spinal curvature that went untreated for years. Despite Harris’s pledge last September to meet with the family after Harvey was inexplicably removed from a surgical waiting list, the meeting never took place, and no apology from the health service was issued, as promised. Harvey passed away last week, prompting outrage and calls for accountability.
Posts on social media have fueled the #JusticeForHarvey campaign, with users labeling Harris’s inaction as “heartless” and “despicable.” Gillian Morrison expressed her grief and frustration online, stating, “These delays and the absolute mismanagement of scoliosis and spina bifida care mean that Harvey was left to deteriorate.” The family is awaiting a cause of death report to assess the impact of the delayed surgery.
Critics have pointed to Harris’s tenure as Minister for Health in 2017, when he vowed no child would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery. Yet, current data shows 228 patients still on the waiting list. The controversy has sparked broader discussions about disability justice and systemic failures in Ireland’s healthcare system.
Harris has not publicly responded to the resignation calls, and attempts to contact him through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Fine Gael have gone unanswered. As the #JusticeForHarvey movement gains momentum, Harvey’s family and supporters vow to continue their fight for answers and reform to ensure no other child endures similar neglect.
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