A REPORT into the death of Shannon teenager, Aoife Johnston will be published no later than Monday.
HSE Chief Executive, Bernard Gloster told the Oireachtas Health Committee on Wednesday that he would be publishing the report no later than Monday.
Aoife’s family called for the publication of the report by the end of this week and have expressed their “profound disappointment” with the report. Aoife died after a 12-hour wait in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in December 2022. She was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and developed sepsis.
Retired judge, Frank Clarke carried out the report which looked at the area of accountability and oversight.
Solicitors for the Johnston family expressed disappointment with the report and said the judge’s powers were too restrictive. Damien Tansey, the family’s solicitor said a meeting with the family sought by the HSE Chief, Bernard Gloster, can not happen until the report by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke is published in full.
Mr Tansey said the restrictions imposed on Mr Justice Clarke by the HSE were most unsatisfactory and flew in the face of assurances given to the family by the HSE. The family had been assured the investigation would be unfettered, would be evidence driven and that Mr Justice Clarke could go wherever the evidence took him and that there would be accountability, he said.
Mr Tansey said the family were making no criticism of the former Chief Justice, but are very unhappy that his report was unable to make findings of fact, or attribute blame as they had put all their faith in the Clarke investigation.
Speaking before the Oireachtas, Mr Gloster stated, ”I will be publishing the report no later than this coming Monday. I will have more contact with solicitor for the family later today. It is important in the public interest that the report is published appropriately”.
He added, “I am very conscious about the commentary on the report and the best way to address that is when the totality of the report is there. I will be able to comment on the detail of it and what appears to be concern expressed about it”.
Gloster said, ”I would say that is misplaced concern. It is a comprehensive and very effective report. It is one that completely fulfilled all of its terms of reference”.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (FF) said that he would listen very carefully to the requests of Aoife’s parents and family. He said that she was failed and that what happened to her should not have happened.
He added that her family must be at the heart of “anything we do”. “If they are saying that not enough has been done, then in my view we must do more.”
Donnelly said that the first step was to publish the report. He added that he was happy to meet Aoife’s parents again, as was Bernard Gloster.
