Antoinette Burke has vowed to continue campaigning for her daughter Katie's hip surgery, after confronting the Taoiseach yesterday.

Ms Burke’s daughter, Katie Byrne, has cerebral palsy and requires a femoral and pelvic osteotomy surgery.

Irish surgeons are unable to carry out the operation, which has forced her to seek medical help abroad in the United States.

 

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Ms Burke believes the surgery could have been carried out here in Ireland when Katie was a child, but doctors at the time refused.

“Katie was first diagnosed with hip dysplasia at the age of four – well, she was actually three years and eight months,” she told The Hard Shoulder.

“On the 24th of September this year, she’ll be 15 years waiting on surgery.”

According to Ms Burke, when Katie was initially diagnosed, the family was told she would be kept on a “close list” for surgery.

“Basically, [they’d] keep an eye on her,” Ms Burke said.

“Every letter after that is the same thing, over and over and over again."

Ms Burke said the last time Katie saw anybody in Enable Ireland was in 2022.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking at the Fianna Fail Think In In Cork. Photo Fianna Fail via Roliingnews.ie. 15/09/2025

While Katie rarely uses a wheelchair, and is determined to keep walking, she has had to avail of private physiotherapy, as Ms Burke said the treatment is not offered by service providers.

“It’s an ongoing campaign all the time to try and get Katie what she needs,” Ms Burke said.

“I’m her mum, you know, it’s my job to get her what she needs.

“So, if I have to fight 24/7, that’s what I’ll do.

“It’s exhausting, it’s draining, it’s very frustrating; but I fought this long, I ain’t backing down.”

'I won't give up on Katie'

Ms Burke said she has “given up hope on anything happening in this country for Katie”.

“When you’re fighting 15 years with surgeons and they’re telling you, ‘No, no, no,’ you do give up,” she said.

“But I won’t give up on Katie.

“I’ll give up on Ireland, but I will not give up on getting her what she needs and giving her the independence that she needs.”

According to Ms Burke, Katie, who is currently in sixth year, hopes to be an occupational therapist, to help those in similar situations to herself.

If you would like to help with Katie's hip surgery, you can support here.

Main image: Micheál Martin (L) speaks to Antoinette Burke (R). 15/9/2025.