COMMENT: We are infuriated that such a devastating loss occurred on our doorstep — we see you, Aoife

A PHOTO was presented in Kilmallock Courthouse on Monday - a haunting image of a sixteen-year-old girl, her body contorted, crammed across two office chairs in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick in December of 2022. 

Between the two swivel chairs, there is a gap yawning beneath the teenager’s lower back. She wears a red, festive fleece top. Her fingers cover her face.

Aoife Johnston isn’t just in pain.

She is dying.

Before Monday of this week there were very few people who didn't know the name Aoife Johnston.

The wider population will have known her as the girl who died on a trolley in the hospital in Limerick. They will recognise her as the girl with the baby blonde hair, long, dark, thick eyelashes, huge blue eyes and shy smile that has looked out at us from our TV screens, phones and newspaper stands at various points since late 2022. 

This week, the details that have emerged through the words of witness after witness - 23 in total - at the inquest into the Shannon girl’s tragic demise in our local emergency department has moved her story, life and memory from ‘another news article’ and statistic to a story of a human being that weighs heavy on our hearts.

“I continually begged for help,” Aoife’s father James told the inquest on Monday. “I was up and down to the nurses’ station all night, pleading with them to help my daughter,” he added.

Aoife’s mother Carol told the inquest; “Aoife was screaming in agony with pain in her right leg and head. I heard people outside on the trolleys asking the nurses and doctors to help Aoife."

 James and Carol said their daughter had a “horrible death” and people “need to know she suffered”.

‘Aoife had a horrible death, she suffered the whole night’

‘We told her she was in the best place’: Mum of Aoife Johnston

James, Carol and Aoife's two sisters Meagan and Kate, brought photos of Aoife into the courtroom which were put on display before the inquest hearing started, with one of her sister’s saying "we want everyone to see Aoife".

To Carol, James, Meagan and Kate, we see Aoife.

As a community in whose local hospital their cherished girl perished, we are infuriated and profoundly saddened that such a devastating loss occurred right on our doorstep.

In Aoife’s name, the Government, the HSE, hospital staff and our wider society must ensure that such heartbreak never, ever darkens our door again.

We see you, Aoife.

May you rest in peace.