Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council has agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Executive demanding that Ministers reverse the decision not to hold a statutory public inquiry into cervical screening failures in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

The council motion followed a report by Professor Sir Frank Atherton, which concluded that a public inquiry was inappropriate. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt accepted those findings.

Councillors cited two deaths linked to the screening failures. Lynsey Courtney from Portadown and Erin Harbinson from Tandragee both received incorrect results and later died from cervical cancer.

The issue originated from a Royal College of Pathologists review that identified serious failings in screening conducted by the Southern Trust over 13 years. In 2022, the Trust sent review letters to 17,500 women in its area.

Several councillors across parties supported the Ladies with Letters campaign group in calling for a full inquiry under the 2005 Act. They argued that only such an inquiry could compel evidence, establish accountability and restore public confidence.

The council also agreed to send copies of the letter to all Executive Ministers and to request that the Executive call in the decision if the Health Minister does not reverse it.

Councillors further proposed that the council's health working group meet with the Public Health Agency and the Southern Trust to examine what improvements have been implemented since the review.