"Her passing will leave a void in all our lives, that at this point seems impossible to fill."
Vicky Phelan's husband Jim, and their two children, Amelia and Darragh, have
issued a statement remembering her as the "heart and soul" of their family.
The campaigner passed away yesterday aged 48. As one of the women impacted by the CervicalCheck scandal, Vicky spent the final few years of her life campaigning to ensure that it would never happen again.
In a touching statement, her family remembers her legacy with love.
It reads: "It is with an immense burden of grief that earlier today we bade our final farewell to our beloved Vicky.
"She was the heart and soul of our family unit and her passing will leave a void in all our lives, that at this point seems impossible to fill.
"We cherish the memories of a loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister, whose ability to deal with the struggles of life has inspired not only ourselves but an entire nation.
"The outpouring of grief and good wishes from far and wide are truly appreciated. Funeral arrangements when made will be private, with an opportunity for people to pay their respects in due course."
Yesterday saw an outpouring of grief for Vicky.
President Michael D. Higgins was among those paying tribute to the campaigner.
https://twitter.com/PresidentIRL/status/1592129413701046272
In a statement, he said: "All of us who had the privilege of meeting Vicky will have been struck by the powerful inner strength and dignity with which she not only faced her own illness but with the sense of commitment to the public good and the rights of others with which she campaigned.
"Vicky, in all of this, made an enormous contribution to Irish society. Thanks to her tireless efforts, despite the terrible personal toll she herself had to carry, so many women’s lives have been protected, and will be protected in the future.
"She will be deeply missed, by all of those who were in awe of her courage, her resilience, offered not only to women but to all of us in Ireland. She will of course be missed above all by those closest to her."
Feature image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie Facebook split image: Sam Boal/Rolling News.ie
