An inquest into the death of a 16-year-old girl at University Hospital Limerick has returned a verdict of medical misadventure.
Niamh McNally from Bruff in Co Limerick died in the emergency department in January 2024 after suffering heart failure.
Yesterday, the HSE apologised unreservedly to the family of Niamh McNally for what was described as "failings" that should not have happened, which led to her death.
After two days of harrowing detail around the death of her only child, Carolyn O'Neill spoke outside the coroner's court supported by family and friends.
She said she was delighted with the verdict but it did not bring closure.
Breaking down in tears she described her daughter as a beautiful young woman who loved life and never let her disability get in the way.
The teenager had a congenital heart defect and underwent multiple surgeries as a young child but her health had remained stable.
Niamh was admitted to UHL on 9 January, gasping for breath and coughing up large volumes of blood.
She was diagnosed with a lower respiratory infection and spent two weeks in hospital where she was treated for a collapsed lung and a clot.
Six days later she was rushed back to UHL and her mother broke down in court as she recalled the blood streaming from her mouth and her saying, "Mammy, I can't breathe".
Niamh McNally inquest finding 'horrendous', says family
The inquest heard an apology from the HSE Mid West citing missed opportunities to intervene that led to her death.
The inquest heard that Carolyn O'Neill had handed over her daughter's medical notes with her cardiac history when she was first admitted to UHL on 9 January.
Over the two-day inquest, seven medical witnesses were cross examined, including respiratory and cardiological consultants.
There was some acknowledgment of shortcomings in Niamh McNally's care and acceptance of a failure to implement a cardio treatment plan given her complex heart history.
The court heard that the cause of death was recorded as "asphyxiation secondary to pulmonary haemorrhage likely resulting from the erosion of collateral arteries" in the heart.
The solicitor for the family said they were haunted to this day that the source of Niamh's bleeding was never identified as being related to her complex heart history.
Damien Tansey said the family believe that cardiological intervention would have saved her life.
