NINETEEN members of the late Eileen Donovan’s family sat in the courtroom in Kilmallock last week for the inquest into her death.
Displayed prominently on the solicitor’s bench was a picture of Eileen, her gentle face and shy smile turned towards the coroner’s seat and the witness box.
Her only son, Patrick, says his family still feel they do not know the full story of why their mother went into University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for observation after a fall – the place where she would no long later die.
The family of Eileen Donovan still have questions around why the inquest into her death heard no evidence from two of the people who cared for her on the night she died, why no doctor came to speak to them for nearly two hours after they arrived to find her dead, and why, in the years since she died, they had no approach or contact from the HSE or UHL.
Patrick Donovan wonders why his mother’s complaints of severe pain, from what turned out to be an internal bleed, were medicated rather than further investigated, despite two requests for imaging that didn’t happen.
On behalf of his heartbroken family, Patrick issued the following statement to the Limerick Post:
“It is with profound disappointment that I reflect on the care my late mother received at UHL, where she tragically passed away following an anticoagulant injection.
“My mother, a patient who placed her trust in the medical staff, expressed on several occasions her growing concerns about the negative impact of the injection on her health. Her repeated attempts to voice these concerns were not given the attention and consideration they deserved, leading to devastating consequences.
“My mother was admitted to UHL as a precaution following a fall at home, a measure we believed would safeguard her health and wellbeing. Instead, she became entangled in a system where her voice — her instinct and experience of her own body — was not valued.
“My mother was the heart and soul of our family — a loving and vibrant presence who brought joy and unity to all of us. She is gravely missed by her brothers, sisters, her own children, and her adoring grandchildren. Christmas, and every family gathering, will never be the same again without her warmth and laughter.
“Adding to our heartbreak was the coroner’s narrative decision, which we were deeply disappointed with. While the ruling did recognise the anticoagulant injection was a factor to her death. We urge the hospital and all involved to reflect deeply on the practices that led to this outcome and to implement measures ensuring patients’ voices are always prioritised.
“My mother deserved better than to feel unheard during her final days, and no family should endure similar anguish. The commitment to learning from this tragedy is the least we owe her memory.”
UHL has been contacted for comment.
