NUALA HORNER:NUALA HORNER,who has died aged 75, was a medical laboratory scientist specialising in the field of haematology with a long career at St James's Hospital in Dublin.
Her extensive knowledge was called on even after she retired and she returned to work in the laboratory at St Michael’s Hospital in Dún Laoghaire until she reached the age of 73. She was a fellow of the Academy of Medical Laboratory Scientists.
In 1966 she completed a seminal article under Prof Ian J Temperley titled Effect of ascorbic acid on the serum folic acid estimation at the school of pathology, Trinity College, Dublin.
She began her career as medical laboratory technician, known today as a medical scientist, in the Rotunda Hospital. A former colleague, who worked with her at the Meath Hospital in Heytesbury Street, said as one of the first academically qualified laboratory technicians in the country Ms Horner was heavily relied on by consultants and doctors. She was “meticulous and knowledgeable” about her job.
Ms Horner’s roots were in Donegal and Derry. Her father, James Horner, was a republican though he trained as a ground crewman with the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force in England at the end of first World War in 1918.
His family believe that his death at the early age of 45 was caused by dreadful living conditions aboard the SS Argenta, a prison ship used to intern republicans in Belfast Lough and Larne Harbour in the 1920s. He was forced into exile south of the Border because a condition of his release was that he leave Northern Ireland.
Though she had the build of “a little sparrow”, Nuala was known to be assertive when it came to doing the best for hospital patients and she could articulate herself in a sensitive manner when she encountered disagreement. Her father’s death as a young man had a formative effect, she was a champion of the underdog and stood up when she saw injustice. She always dressed immaculately. A friend and former colleague, Val Keavney, said “her petite stature resembled the French singer, Édith Piaf”, and that Ms Horton was “a highly intelligent and talented person who inspired confidence”.
Fr Michael Cody, parish priest of St Patrick’s, Monkstown, said Ms Horner was a “gifted woman who used her talents in the service of others. For nearly 60 years she had devoted her life to her work as a laboratory specialist and had done that work until recently”. He said that “her work in the lab had brought hope and ease to the terminally ill and those with cancer”.
Ms Horton’s sister Clodagh said she had battled cancer for the past year but had “wanted to work forever and had been positive decisive and cheerful” up until the time of her death at St Vincents Private Hospital.
Nuala Horner: born June 20th, 1935; died December 14th, 2010