A Shannon teenager who is understood to have passed away from meningitis earlier this week is to be laid to rest today.
16-year-old Aoife Johnston died on Monday at University Hospital Limerick after becoming unwell over the weekend.
Aoife was a Leaving Cert student at St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon and was in school as recently as last Friday.
In a post on social media, the school is describing her passing as ‘a terrible tragedy’ and says she will be missed by all who knew her.
The school has implemented its Critical Incident Management Plan and is being advised by experts from the National Educational Psychological Service in how best to support teachers and students who knew Aoife.
They say the offers of support that have been ‘pouring in’ to the school community are ‘greatly appreciated’.
Public Health Midwest say they’re investigating the circumstances surrounding Aoife’s passing, and is offering its ‘sincere condolences’ to her family and friends.
The UL Hospitals Group has told Clare FM it ‘cannot comment on individual cases due to [their] ethical and legal obligations to protect the privacy of [their] patients and [their] staff.
Aoife’s survived by her parents James and Carol, sisters Meagan and Kate, grandparents Jimmy and Evelyn, boyfriend Cillian, relatives and friends.
She’ll be laid to rest in Illaunmanagh Cemetery later this morning, following an 11am funeral mass in St. John and Paul’s Church, Shannon.
