By Veronica Corr
On Monday evening The Northern Standard received a phone call from Niamh Smyth TD, who brought the plight of a Castleblayney couple, Geraldine and Michael Mooney of York Street to our attention. This reporter visited the Mooneys on Tuesday evening accompanied by Deputy Smyth, who has a constituency office nearby. Geraldine (67) has suffered from progressing Multiple Sclerosis for the past 33 years and is forced to use a wheelchair outside her home and a mobility scooter indoors.
She also functions as her husband Michael’s carer. He is 68 and was left with limited mobility following a serious car crash in 1981, followed by a stroke in 1988. Mrs. Mooney, who is a retired teacher, said that she was very resistant to the idea of becoming a wheelchair user, but she had no choice due to her worsening condition. Michael too said that he engaged fully with physio in a bid to return to full mobility, but he has to use a tripod walking stick in the house and a wheelchair….
