Emma Mhic Mhathuna lying in repose in Ratoath tonight

The remains of CervicalCheck campaigner Emma Mhic Mhathuna will repose in Ratoath tonight before travelling on to Dublin's Pro-Cathedral for her Funeral Mass tomorrow at 12.45pm.

Emma's aunt lives in Ratoath, and her funeral is being handled by Dunshaughlin-based undertakers, McEntaggarts.

Her family said in a statement this evening that before she passed away she requested that her remains should pass by Leinster House at Kildare Street, Government Buildings on Merrion Street and Department of Health on Baggot Street.

 

They explained: "The purpose of this route is not to protest. It is a final and departing effort to encourage those within to hold a mirror up to the organisations and agencies that they preside over politically and practically.

"Moreover, it is a request to those organisations and agencies to commit to ensure that Emma's tragic situation will never happen to another Irish mother or Irish woman again. Whilst Emma was at odds with institutions and the agencies her decision to pass by them should not be interpreted as a personal criticism of any one individual but rather the institutions within."

They continued to say that "the final part of Emma's journey will be to Aras an Uchtrain as a mark of her personal appreciation to President Michael D Higgins."

The first of two funeral services was held for Mhic Mhathuna this morning at Seipeal na Carraige at Baile na nGall in the west Kerry Gaeltacht.

As a gesture of support with Emma and the other 200 women hit by the CervicalCheck scandal, many women attending the Requiem Mass today opted to wear bright red coats and outfits to show their solidarity - bright red being the colour Emma herself insisted on wearing when she settled her High Court action against the HSE and a US laboratory over her incorrect smear test results.

Her incorrect smear test results were in 2013 - and she was later diagnosed with cancer.

Earlier this year she was informed her cancer had spread and was now terminal.

In a gesture specifically requested by Emma, the media were asked to assemble at the entrance to the church and were specially thanked by Emma's uncles, John and Brendan Moran, for the role they played in helping highlight the CervicalCheck scandal and Emma's case.

"Emma wanted to thank you from the bottom of her heart for what you have done to highlight this," they said.

Fr Eoghan O'Cadhla told the packed congregation that Emma's death had shocked the tightknit community where she had lived for the past 18 months with her five children, Natasha, Seamus, Mario, Oisin and Donnacha.

"Her love for her beautiful children will live with me forever," Fr O'Cadhla said.

"Her courage, her faith, her dignity and her resilience are an inspiration to me and all the people who got to know her in Corcha Dhuibhne and far beyond this place."

Fr O'Cadhla also recalled how parishioners had given Emma an impromptu round of applause when she attended Mass in the days after her High Court victory.

"She was delighted - she said it meant so much to her," he said.

The mourners were led by Emma's children with her eldest daughter, Natasha, carrying her younger brother, Donnacha, in her arms into the packed church.

Mourners also included Emma's father, Peter, her uncles John and Brendan, her aunts including Elaine to whom she was particularly close.

Her children took an active role in the Requiem Mass.

Mario delivered the second reading while Natasha, Seamus and Mario also brought Offertory Gifts to the altar to symbolise the loves of Emma's life.

These included the An Ghaeltacht GAA jerseys of Seamus and Mario, bouquets of wild Fuschia which was Emma's favourite flower in west Kerry, a family photo, a bible, a Rosary beads and a painting.

Following tomorrow's funeral Mass in the Pro Cathedral, Emma will be buried at Laraghbrien Cemetery in Maynooth.