‘Nobody came to my help’ sobs mum of teen who died suddenly in Limerick hospital as inquest hears devastating details

In her evidence, Carolyn O’Neill broke down several times as she recalled the harrowing final hours of her only child at the facility

A MOTHER whose teen daughter died in an A&E corridor sobbed as she told an inquest: “Nobody came to my help.”

Tragic Niamh McNally, 16, from Bruff, died suddenly in University Hospital Limerick in January 2024 after being rushed in by ambulance with serious breathing difficulties.

The Health Service Executive has issued a grovelling apology to the McNally family for “failings” which contributed to her death.

Niamh’s mother Carolyn, her grandfather Clem, uncle Pete and best friend Naomi Cleary-Graham, attended the inquest at Limerick Coroner’s Court in Kilmallock, which opened today.

It began with an apology read out on behalf of the HSE West, which said: “We understand no words can express the pain and grief you are experiencing, and we offer our sincerest condolences for your devastating loss.

“We are heartbroken that Niamh was taken from you too soon.”

It continued: “The circumstances surrounding Niamh’s passing are a source of immense sorrow, and we sincerely regret the opportunities that were missed to intervene.

“We accept that these failings, which led to Niamh’s tragic death, should not have happened.

“On behalf of the management and staff of University Hospital, we wish to apologise unreservedly for these failings.”

The letter also said: “We are committed to learning from this tragedy and to implementing 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 final hours of her only child at the facility.

Niamh was admitted to the midwest hospital on January 9, 2024, after coughing up blood.

‘HORRIFIC SCENE’

She stayed there for 14 days and was treated for a collapsed lung, then discharged on January 23.

But the teenager, who had a congenital heart defect and scoliosis, was readmitted to hospital on January 29 and died later that night.

At the tribunal, her mum recalled events on the day of Niamh’s death: “I texted her at 11.30am to see how she was.

“I received a video call in response as she couldn’t communicate — she had so much blood in her mouth.

Nobody came to my help, after four times shouting that I need help. She turned around and said, ‘Mammy, I can’t breathe’.”Carolyn O’Neill

“It was just mouthfuls and mouthfuls of blood. I thought she would be dead by the time I got home.”

O’Neill returned home and told how she witnessed an “horrific scene” of her daughter lying down, covered in blood.

‘SHE WAS SHUTTING DOWN’

She rang the hospital ward to which Niamh had previously been admitted, and the GP, but got no response from either. So she called for an ambulance, which took her daughter to UHL.

Ms O’Neill told the inquest they arrived at the hospital and her daughter was in resuscitation for about two hours.

She then had to wait a further hour before seeing a doctor.

Niamh continued to vomit blood and was gasping for breath as her mother tried to hold her up on a trolley in an overcrowded corridor.

Heartbroken Carolyn continued: “When I look back, Niamh was dying then.

“She was shutting down. She was deteriorating.

“Nobody came to my help, after four times shouting that I need help. She turned around and said, ‘Mammy, I can’t breathe’.”

At this point, Ms O’Neill said a doctor came and began pumping an oxygen bag for Niamh, and she tried to assist the medic.

A doctor came out a short time later to tell her that her daughter had died.

The inquest continues.