Tom Curran is the face of the right to die debate in Ireland. He joined the board of Exit International in 2010.
In 2013, Tom’s partner of 25 years, Marie Fleming, took a landmark case to Ireland’s High Court and later to the constitutional Supreme Court, arguing that as a disabled sufferer of MS, she had a constitutional right to receive assistance to die.
Both Courts dismissed Marie’s case. However the legal action put voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide on the political map of the country.
Marie Fleming died in December 2013 of MS.
Since Marie’s death, Tom has become an active campaigner, not only for a right to die law in Ireland but for drug law reform including the use of medical marijuana.
In November 2020, Tom established the Irish Medicinal Cannabis Council.
Listen to Tom ‘in conversation’ on the Exit Podcast (recorded October 2020).
Dicing with Dr Death
In 2015, Tom participated in the Dicing with Doctor Death stand-up show with Philip Nitschke at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The show was awarded 5 Star Review by TV Bomb who said ‘a wonderful show, both dark and illuminating. It’s thought provoking, engaging and funny, and despite its subject matter, manages to be hugely life affirming’.
The Telegraph gave the show 1 star calling it ‘witlessly infantile’.
Tom has represented the right to die movement in eleven countries across three continents. He has been the subject of two TV documentaries and regularly appears on TV and in other media globally.
An Act of Love
Marie Fleming’s incredible life story is published as An Act of Love, available at the Exit Book Store.
Letting Go
In 2020, Marie and Tom’s story was made into a stage play.
Its planned Irish national tour was very sadly disrupted by Covid 19.
A new play with a new cast will have its world premiere on Saturday, 5 March 2022 at the Whale Theatre in Dublin.
Tickets are now available on ask@whaletheatre.ie or +353 (1) 2010550.
Tom can be contacted on +353 87-256-2714 or on email
