THE FAMILY of a young girl who was killed when she was hit by a car a year ago this week said they have been left with more questions than answers about her death as they await a conclusion in the Garda investigation.
14-year-old Savannah Barry Calvert, late of Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, died after being struck by a car as she was crossing the street at Bank Place in Limerick City, on the night of August 16, 2023.
Savannah had been living with a diagnosis of a respiratory disease, cystic fibrosis, which tragically claimed the lives of her sisters, Katie and Sophie.
Poignantly, Savannah was also trying to cope with the loss of her mother, Jacqueline Barry, who died eight months previously of stomach cancer, aged just 53.
Speaking as the first anniversary of her sister’s death approached, Diane Calvert said that despite a year-long Garda investigation into Savannah’s death, the family are still seeking answers as to the circumstances around her passing.
A Garda forensic collision investigator was called to examine the scene of the fatal incident, but a year on, Ms Calvert said she and her family are none the wiser about the Garda probe.
Ms Calvert claimed that when she previously asked Gardaí if she could view CCTV footage from a camera in the area, she was told it was “too distressing to watch”.
However, when she pressed Gardaí further on the footage, she says she was told the camera was facing away from the area at the time the collision occurred.
Despite this, Ms Calvert praised the “sensitivities” shown to them by a Garda appointed as a liaison officer to the family. Though she said the family is frustrated at the pace of the investigation and called on Gardaí to renew their efforts.
Ms Calvert said she has contacted Gardaí numerous times about what stage their investigation is at, but that Gardaí have remained tight lipped about their enquires.
In response to a request for comment, a Garda spokeswoman responded: “This remains an ongoing Garda investigation”.
Tears from the Garda’s eyes
The driver of the car that struck Savannah spoke to Gardaí at the scene and made himself available to them and no arrests or charges have arisen out of the ongoing Garda probe.
“We want to know what is taking the investigation so long, this is my innocent sister’s life, she had so much to live for,” Diane told the Limerick Post.
“All Gardaí tell me is that it is up to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions).”
Ms Calvert said she came upon the fatal scene as Gardaí and paramedics valiantly tried to save her little sister.
“Savannah was on the ground, her other sister, Denika, was screaming, and a taxi driver put his taxi in front of Savannah to stop traffic rolling over her,” Ms Calvert said.
“The Gardaí were (performing CPR) on her, they were really doing their best and I’ll be forever grateful for all they did for her.
“I could see the tears coming out of the Garda’s eyes, he was working so hard on Savannah, but I knew my sister was dead, the soul was just gone out of her.
“Poor Savannah, four hours she was in the hospital resuscitation room and the doctor came out of it crying and said he was so sorry but there was nothing they could do for her.
“Her brain and skull were shattered and her kidney got blown away,” Ms Calvert said.
‘She just loved life’
A life-sized poster of Savannah, dressed in her confirmation dress, which was erected following her death, remains at the spot where the fatal collision occurred.
Diane said that her sister’s death has “broken our family”.
“We miss Savannah so much, she was the baby of the family, and while she might be a statistic to some, she is our baby.”
“I can’t sleep at nighttime, I’m getting depressed. My mental health is not too good.”
Photographs taken by the Calvert family of the car that appeared to have struck Savannah show damage to the car’s windscreen and to the left and right side of the front of the vehicle.
Paying tribute to her late sister, Ms Calvert said that “Savannah was the most beautiful little girl, she had a heart of gold, she just loved life”.
“Savannah was the baby out of 16 of us, she was our life, the baby of the family.
“She loved school, she was very active child, a very obliging child, she was so gentle and just the nicest little child. I just miss her so much.”
An inquest into Savannah Calvert’s death is expected to proceed at Limerick Coroner’s Court once the Garda investigation into the fatal collision is concluded.
