UPDATE: Doctors keeping Limerick mum Scarlett Faulkner ‘on the machines as of now’

THE FAULKNER family have issued an update on their beloved Scarlett who remains in a critical condition in Cork University Hospital.

A woman and a teenage girl have been charged in connection with the serious assault of the Limerick mother-of-one on a road in Birdhill on Saturday, March 21.

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An update has been shared on social media regarding Scarlett’s condition by Josephine (Joanne) Duffy, the partner of Scarlett's brother Thomas, who is one of Scarlett’s 15 siblings.

“They're keeping her on the machines as of now,” said Josephine in a video posted a day ago.

“They're trying to reduce the sedation but when they're trying to reduce the sedation, her brain is swelling so now she's fully sedated again. They will slowly try it during the week and try it without the brain swelling.

“They're going to keep trying and when they do try, and if the swelling stays down, then they will try to wake her up to see if she has any movement, any activity and then put her back into sedation to heal,” said Josephine.

Videos have surfaced of people engaging with security guards in Cork University Hospital over being refused access to visit Scarlett.

Josephine said it is two siblings at a time that can go into her room, describing it as a “very stressful day”.

“Ten of them only (got in to see Scarlett). They're limiting all visitation because obviously there's other patients in there. The family is a big family (16 children) so it will be just the mother and father until maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, and then after that, they will see about the siblings going to see her.”

Josephine said the Faulkner family ask people to keep praying for Scarlett’s recovery.

“They're very, very grateful. They're very thankful for all the prayers, everyone that's lighting candles, for every message,” said Joanne.

A prayer gathering for Scarlett took place at the shrine in Ballynanty on Saturday afternoon. A decade of the rosary was said for Scarlett’s full recovery from her injuries at the well-attended community event.