'Good news': Limerick family share update on Scarlett Faulker as doctors reduce sedation

THE family of Limerick woman Scarlett Faulker have shared a hopeful update on her condition as doctors continue the process of reducing her sedation.

Scarlett, 29, from the northside of Limerick city, remains in intensive care after she was violently assaulted at the side of the R494 road in Birdhill on March 21. The vehicle she was travelling in was rammed off the road before she was dragged from it and attacked by individuals armed with weapons.

In a new update revealed in a video on social media, Josephine (Joanne) Duffy, the partner of Scarlett's brother Thomas explained that medical teams are gradually reducing Scarlett’s sedation — a critical step in assessing her brain function.

“When they were trying to reduce the sedation, the brain was swelling,” Josephine said. “So there’s three different sedations to keep her sedated.”

READ MORE: UPDATE: ‘I know God has bigger plans for you’ - sister of Limerick mum Scarlett Faulkner

She shared that doctors successfully reduced one of the sedations on Wednesday without triggering further swelling.

"They'll do that daily for the next seven to 10 days and then they will know the result, and hopefully, Scarlett will wake up."

Speaking on Thursday, Josephine said: "Yesterday was one sedation, today will be a little bit of the other sedation and it will go on like that."

Josephine added that she feels the update is "good news" because the brain isn't swelling and appealed to people to continue praying for Scarlett.

"I really think that the prayers are working so please everyone continue to pray and with the help of God in 10 days time we'll get very good news."

A woman and a 16-year-old girl appeared before Tipperary District Court in Thurles on Wednesday, charged in connection with the serious assault of Scarlett Faulkner.