The message was loud and clear to all who attended the Cardiac Awareness Public Meeting at Derg Valley Leisure Centre last Wednesday.  "Don't pretend this is not happening!"

Those were the words of Bridget McAnallen, mother of Tyrone GAA star Cormac McAnallen, who died in 2004 at the age of 24 from an undetected heart condition. 

Addressing the meeting, which was also attended by West Tyrone MLS's Pat Doherty, Claire McGill and Derg Councillors Derek Hussey and Kieran McGuire, Mrs McAnallen hit out at the ignorance of government and medical authorities in relation to Sudden Cardiac Death and urged people to assist in lobbying for a better provision of cardiac care for the young. 

"This is a subject that is being ignored and there has been a lack of support from government and health services.  People are dying because there is no public awareness of the issue and while the government should know more, they have behaved like this issue does not exist. 

"A young person can be perfectly healthy, and it's not just about young men who play sport - it's about young men and women from all walks of life who have no symptoms at all. 

"There are no second chances with a heart problem.  Someone has to get to the patient within five minutes with a defibrillator. 

"With varying other illnesses, patients have a longer time, even years, to fight it, and have appropriate services in place.  With that in mind, this is an extreme condition that now has to be treated more seriously than any other condition because there is a view out there that it simply isn't happening," she added. 

Strabane woman Louise McShane, who lost her young sister Lauren Gallagher to cardiac illness in 2006, aged 13, also addressed the meeting.  Mrs McShane, highlighted the free postcard from CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) which was issued to all in attendance on the night, and featured photographs of 12 young people from the Tyrone are, including Lauren, who have died suddenly from undetected heart conditions. 

"As many as 12 young people are dropping dead every single week and it's happening everywhere," she stressed. 

"Your child could be in their bed or out and about playing.  CRY is a very worthy cause raising awareness and is out to promote pro-active screening, which is the only way to identify the majority of young people at risk.  Screening can save lives - it would have meant that these young people would not be on these postcards." 

Packie Breen, the father of 10-year-old Patrick Breen from Dregish who died in 2007, also addressed the meeting, hitting out at the poor funding the local health services receive. 

"This is an issue that needs much more support from our elected representatives.  "There is too much money being wasted on statues and art, while nothing has been done to help prevent more  young people dying.  With that in mind, when the next election comes around we need to think very hard about the way we are going to vote," he sated. 

All in attendance were urged to sign and send the CRY postcards to the Parliament Buildings of Stormont. 

Sinn Fein West Tyrone MLA Claire McGill pledged her support for an issue she admitted not have been well informed about previously.  She also hoped that the families and campaigners will get greater clarity from the Stormont Health Committee, of which she is now a member. 

"My awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death was not it should have been.  but having listened to how passionate family members like Bridget McAnallen and Louise McShane are about this issue I will gladly pledge my support. 

"While  am aware that families have so far been disappointed with the feedback they have received from the Health Committee when previous meetings were held, as I am now a member of the Committee I promise to certainly do all I can to help," she said. 

Councillor Derek Hussey stressed that it was now time to look at the issue of Sudden Cardiac Death seriously. 

"The family members who presented their stories here tonight did so with great dignity.  We hear of high profile cases about this issue but it's time to be aware of the many cases that do no make the headlines.  There is no doubt that the awareness of this issue is not at a level that it should be.  If it is possible to prevent one young person from dying then surely cost is not an issue. 

"This is something much more worthy of having money put into it than any public monument," he urged.