Sir, - In your edition of July 20th, I am reported as stating that Donal McCann, from the time he commenced treatment in St Luke's (February, 1998), "knew . . . that there was no hope".
I regret that there must have occurred a misunderstanding between myself and your diligent reporter and, therefore, as you will appreciate, I need to set the record straight.
The fact of the matter is that the reason Donal decided to have treatment in St Luke's was that he felt (and his doctors felt) that there was real hope. The odds were against Donal but he considered them reasonable odds: 30-1 shortening to 25-1. By the time he had completed treatment (August, 1998) the odds had shortened to 18-1. His doctors were astonished by his rate of recovery - not to mention his courage.
It was only three weeks ago when his doctors informed him that the medical race had been lost that Donal decided to pull up his horse, dismount, and in my presence asked his dear old friend Brendan Sherry to pack his kitbag for the "heaven-haven" of Our Lady's Hospice and the next stage of the journey - as he himself saw it, his going home to God. - Yours, etc. Paul Durcan,
Ringsend, Dublin 4.