Dan dedicates journalism award to cancer victims

CLARE Champion journalist Dan Danaher, who this week scooped a top award for his coverage of a health story that made national headlines, has dedicated it to the memory of the late Ann Moriarty and Edel Kelly, two Clare cancer patients who died following misdiagnosis of their illnesses.
“Karl Henry showed great courage to speak out of about the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death, while John and Una Kelly also displayed great fortitude in their grief to speak about the loss of their beloved Edel,” said Dan.
“I also believe that dealing with hospital acquired infections should be prioritised by Health Minister Mary Harney. Anyone who goes to an acute hospital should be able to do so without the worry of contracting MRSA or C-diff.”
Dan scooped the top prize in the Regional Print Media category at the eighth annual GlaxoSmithKline Irish Medical Media Awards, where he was commended by judging panel chairman Dr John Bowman for “courageously tackling local vested interests and championing the patient’s rights”.
The judging panel made specific reference to Dan’s articles on the provision of services at Mid-Western Regional Hospital at Ennis and the topical issue of hospital-acquired infection.
Dan attended the awards ceremony on Wednesday evening in Dublin where he was presented with a specially commissioned sculpture as well as a cheque for €750.
John Galvin, managing director of The Clare Champion, congratulated Dan on his achievement.
“Dan has always shown a dogged commitment to getting to the heart of stories. His dedication and outstanding commitment to pursuing the truth is commendable and it is wonderful to see such talent recognised.”
Dan has been a key figure in The Clare Champion newsroom for the past 13 years and his abilities have been acknowledged in the past, most recently with a nomination in the Regional News Journalist of the Year category of the Bord Gбis Energy National Media Awards held in June.
Top honours at the GlaxoSmithKline Irish Medical Media Awards were shared amongst Dr Mark Hamilton, presenter and medical expert and Maggi Gibson from Waddell Media Ltd who are behind the series How long will you live? and Mark Warren, Mint Productions and Dr Hamilton for their work on ‘When the Party’s Over’. All three were jointly named Irish Medical Journalist of the Year for their work.
Aisling Murtagh, of Consumer Choice magazine received the award for Young Irish Medical Journalist of the Year. Other winners included Irish Times journalist Sarah Burke, RTÉ’s Richard Dowling and RTÉ’s Anne Roper.