Plea for dying cult girl

The Courier-Mail (Australia)/June 7, 2003
By Amanda Gearing

A terminally ill teenager brought from Ireland to the Helidon cult headquarters of the Magnificat Meal Movement would need a blood transfusion very soon, her specialist in Ireland has told family members in County Donegal.

The girl, Nora Hanly, 15, needs transfusions every week after doctors said she was not a suitable recipient for a bone marrow transplant.

Nora was feared by her father to be dying after his wife left Ireland suddenly with the girl almost two weeks ago and said the girl had not seen a doctor or had any medication.

The father, Patsy Hanly, of County Roscommon, sent photos of Nora to Australia in a desperate plea for help to find out whether she was safe and well.

Pauline Hanly's sister Marilyn Patton told Ireland's Radio 1 last week the family was heart-broken that the girl had been taken overseas and was afraid she would not return home.

Mrs Patton said the husband and family had not realised Mrs Hanly was taking the girl to Helidon when they left Ireland.

She said they became suspicious she had gone there and contacted Irish cult expert Mike Garde to ask for his help in finding her because he was going to Helidon a few days later.

Before leaving Ireland, Mrs Hanly told her husband she was going to Australia for a week on holiday with Nora and another daughter, Maire, 21.

After arriving, Mrs Hanly phoned home and said she would stay an extra month.

In a radio interview broadcast in Ireland, Mrs Hanly spoke from the Helidon cult headquarters saying her daughter had not seen a doctor since arriving in Australia and that Nora was off her medication.

"She has a lovely wee crackled nose because the sunshine here is wonderful," she said. "Nora has leukemia you know, but I like to be positive and say she had it. She is so rested here."

In the same program, Magnificat Meal Movement leader Debra Geileskey said the Hanlys had arrived and she had met the mother and daughters two or three times and prayed for Nora.

Mrs Patton, of Donegal in Ireland, told Toowoomba police on Thursday the girl needed blood transfusions regularly and could die if left untreated.

Police found Nora in hospital on Thursday night after her mother admitted her with a high temperature. She was treated with antibiotics.

Toowoomba Base Hospital superintendent Dr Andrew Cummings said he could not release any information, at the mother's request.

Juvenile Aid Bureau officer in charge Detective Sergeant Lew Strohfeldt said police would check on the girl's progress.

Families Minister Judy Spence said that under Queensland law there were no limitations to the Families Department taking a protective order for a child considered at risk.