The family of the late Aoife Johnston are profoundly disappointed with the report of the investigation into her death at University Hospital Limerick, the solicitor for the family has said.
The family's solicitor, Damien Tansey, Senior Counsel, said a meeting with the family sought by the HSE Chief, Bernard Gloster, can not happen until the report by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke is published in full.
Sixteen-year-old Aoife Johnston from Shannon, Co Clare died after a 12 hour wait in the UHL emergency department in December 2022.
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She was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and developed sepsis.
The family has given the HSE until the end of this week to publish the report unredacted. The family received the report some weeks ago.
Mr Tansey said the restrictions imposed on Mr Justice Clarke by the HSE were most unsatisfactory and flew in the face of assurances given to the family by the HSE.
The family had been assured the investigation would be unfettered, would be evidence driven and that Mr Justice Clarke could go wherever the evidence took him and that there would be accountability, he said.
Mr Tansey said the family were making no criticism of the former Chief Justice, but are very unhappy that his report was unable to make findings of fact, or attribute blame as they had put all their faith in the Clarke investigation.
A number of processes are under way in the HSE in relation to the issue.
Recently, Noreen Spillane was appointed the acting CEO of the University Limerick Hospitals Group.
The HSE has said that at this point, there has been no adverse finding against any staff.
It also said it was important that everyone's rights are respected.
Recently Mr Gloster said the HSE hoped to publish the report or a publishable version of it and he wanted to meet with the family.
In a statement, the HSE said Mr Gloster has said he will publish the report later this month, in an appropriate format, which must take into account the HSE's obligations to all parties involved and must respect the personal and sensitive data contained in the report.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that he would listen very carefully to the requests of parents and family of Aoife Johnston.
He said that she was failed and that what happened to her should not have happened.
He added that her family must be at the heart of "anything we do".
"If they are saying that not enough has been done, then in my view we must do more."
He said that the first step was to publish the report, which he said was the intention of the HSE CEO, and that this would be done in the next two weeks.
He added that he was happy to meet Aoife's parents again, as was Bernard Gloster.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Mr Donnelly described the report as thorough, saying that any redactions will not make it unclear as to who is responsible.
