Family of tragic Limerick teenager to take case to European Court of Human Rights

THE family of a Limerick teenager, who tragically died after being hit by a car, have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to have her death re-investigated.

Savannah Calvert, pictured below, who was only 14-years-old, lost her life as she was crossing the road at Bank Place in Limerick city centre on the night of August 16, 2023.

Earlier this year, Savannah’s eldest sister Diane was told that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would not be bringing charges against the driver of the car which struck the youngster.

Now, the family have written to An Garda Siochana asking the agency to re-open its investigation.

READ MORE: Contracts signed for new social housing units in Limerick county

They have also contacted the DPP with the same request.

And contact has been made with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

They have received the support of Mike Daly, who fought a 14-year battle with the HSE over the death of his father Mike Sr, successfully securing a second inquest into the passing.

Off the back of this case, which ended in the High Court last year, Mr Daly set up a business, Medical Records Research Ireland to support people who had been in similar situations to him.

While he acknowledged he felt the death of Savannah was a criminal matter, and he was not able to help, he agreed to examine her file.

He went through the medical report and the autopsy after the teenager’s death, alongside the DPP’s reasoning not to go forward with a prosecution.

“After reading these, I realised there were massive contradictions between one and the other. I felt it was enough for us to take a case to Europe,” said Mr Daly, who was also part of a group who organised a massive protest against conditions at University Hospital Limerick in January 2023.

He has put together a document which outlines what he says are “massive contradictions” between the reports.

As well as filing a case with the European Court of Human Rights, locally the family has asked the gardai and the DPP to look again into the matter.

The case is being taken to Strasbourg on the basis of article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, which deals with the right to life.

This convention is an international treaty which protects the fundamental human rights and freedoms for the over 830 million people living in Europe.

It is enacted through the European Court of Human Rights. “Whenever there’s a death in Ireland, the State has an obligation to investigate it thoroughly and fairly. We feel there has been a breach of this,” said Mr Daly.

What he and the Calvert family want to see happen now is for the European Court of Human Rights contact the State, show them where they are in breach of article two and ask them to re-open the investigation.

Mr Daly said:“In our opinion, the DPP has failed, and is in breach of article two.”

“If they are in breach of article two, what are they going to do to remedy it?” he asked.

Savannah’s sister Diane, who has organised protests to try and get the DPP to change course, has said she has not been able to properly grieve her younger sister, who died more than two years ago.

“My sister is in a graveyard, and it is so unfair. My sister is a person, not a number. This is Ireland’s sister. Every day she is in my mind. No matter where I go, I can’t get it out of my head. I know she is not resting: she needs justice, we need justice. I’m very angry, I feel very let down. I feel we are looked down upon as a family,” she added.

The DPP declined to comment on the case.

Gardai did not return a request for comment.