Knock wants Athlone woman's case to be recognised as miracle

The case of an Athlone woman who said she was cured of Multiple Sclerosis during a visit to Knock is being sent to the Vatican in the hope that it could be officially declared a miracle by the Catholic Church.

Carton Drive resident Marion Carroll has told of how she was paralysed with the illness in September 1989 and was bound to a stretcher during her visit to Knock.

She said she was miraculously healed after receiving Holy Communion at the shrine.

"I got a beautiful feeling inside me. It was like a whispering breeze had told me that if the straps were taken off my stretcher I'd be able to get up and walk," she explained.

Marion then asked for the straps to be taken off.

When they were, she said: "My two legs swung around and I stood up, and it was like I was never sick."

Pat Lavelle, manager of the shrine in Knock, has confirmed that attempts are underway to have the Vatican recognise Marion's cure as a miracle.

"This is the first case in 131 years," he said, referencing the 1879 apparition of Our Lady at the site.

"The case complies with the two main conditions of a miraculous cure; it's instant and it's total."

It is believed that accounts from people who knew Marion at the time, as well as medical records and testimonies of nurses who cared for her, have been compiled for the consideration of Church authorities.

However, one issue which could arise when seeking the Vatican's declaration of a miracle cure is that Marion's MS was not formally diagnosed.

Marion's story was included in a recent RTÉ documentary and this has given fresh impetus to the appeal to the Vatican.

SIC: WI