An inquest has opened into the death of a 16-year-old girl at University Hospital Limerick.
Niamh McNally, from Bruff in Co Limerick, died suddenly in the emergency department in January 2024 after being taken to hospital with serious breathing difficulties.
The Health Service Executive has apologised unreservedly to the family for what was described as "failings" which led to her death and should not have happened.
Niamh McNally's widowed mother Carolyn, her grandfather Clem, uncle Pete and best friend, Naomi Cleary-Graham, are attending the inquest at Limerick Coroner's Court in Kilmallock.
The inquest opened with an apology read out on behalf of the HSE West offering sincerest condolences and accepting that these "failings" should not have happened.
"The circumstances surrounding Niamh's passing are a source of immense sorrow for us, and we sincerely regret the opportunities that were missed to intervene. We accept that these failings, which ultimately led to Niamh's tragic death, should not have happened. On behalf of the management and staff of the University Hospital, we wish to apologise unreservedly for these failings."
The HSE West went on to say that the devastation suffered by Niamh McNally's family cannot be undone but added: "We are committed to learning from this tragedy and to implement any necessary changes to prevent similar incidents in the future."
In her evidence, Carolyn O'Neill broke down several times as she recalled the harrowing details leading up to her daughter's death when Niamh told her mother: "Mammy, I can't breathe."
Niamh was her only child and she was a widow. Their bond was very close.
The inquest heard that Niamh had a congenital heart defect and had open heart surgeries as a very young child. She also had scoliosis. Her mother said she handed her medical notes into UHL emergency department when she was admitted on 9 January.
Niamh was diagnosed with a respiratory infection. She spent two weeks in hospital and was given an antibiotic and had physio.
During that time, she was tested and scanned, and on 19 January a bronchoscopy revealed a clot and a collapsed lung.
Niamh McNally was discharged on 23 January and told no more medication was required.
On 29 January, Carolyn O'Neill was out doing a small grocery shop and called home to see how her daughter was. Niamh could barely communicate as she was coughing up blood and phlegm.
Carolyn O'Neill called an ambulance and her daughter was taken to the emergency department at UHL.
She was deteriorating and a doctor said he would bring her into the resuscitation area.
A short time later, she was taken out to a trolley onto a corridor where she remained.
Niamh continued to vomit blood and was gasping for breath. Her mother was holding Niamh up on a trolley in a very overcrowded corridor and staff were so busy that it was hard to find anyone to help.
Niamh's mother said she was watching her child choking, then a doctor rushed to help and he grabbed an oxygen bag. Niamh's mother tried to help out by helping to give her child oxygen.
Niamh died from cardiac arrest a few hours later.
Solicitor for the McNally family, Damien Tansey, said it haunts them to this day that whatever chance Niamh had of recovery, it would not happen on a trolley in the corridor.
The inquest continues.
