THE FAMILY of a young girl who was killed when she was hit by a car in Limerick are organising a protest calling for the reversing of the decision not to criminally prosecute the driver.
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.
Following a Garda investigation into the circumstances of her death, he family were told that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that there is to be no criminal prosecution.
“It’s like a stab in the heart to hear that no one will be even brought to court for my sister’s death,” Savannah’s sister, Diane Calvert, told the Limerick Post.
“Last Tuesday, I got a phone call to go to the Garda station and the family went. We knew it was serious by the tone of it.
“When we got there, we were told that the DPP had said there would be no prosecution. None of us could believe it – how can that be right? My little sister was killed but no one is even going to be charged and brought to court.”
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.
A Garda forensic collision investigator was called to examine the scene of the fatal incident and Gardai took statements from witnesses and examined CCTV footage as part of the investigation.
“We don’t even have a death certificate for Savannah and there has been no inquest yet. Our family is heartbroken and we don’t believe this is justice for our little sister. All we want is justice for Savannah,” Diane said.
The protest is scheduled for March 14, to start at Bedford Row at 1pm and continue to the courthouse on Mulgrave Street.
