There should have been more communication with Aoife Johnston’s loved ones about the inquiry into her death, the family lawyer has said. 

The 16-year-old from County Clare fell ill last year with meningitis and died in University Hospital Limerick after a 12-hour wait for treatment. 

Her death has already been investigated by the HSE but former Chief Justice Frank Clarke has been asked to oversee a second, external inquiry. 

The terms of reference have now been agreed but Senior Counsel Damien Tansey said the family had no input into them. 

“We were concerned on behalf of our clients that we weren’t consulted about the terms of reference before they were announced,” he said. 

“That question was put to the Minister [of Health] this morning and he explained it by saying that none of the interested parties.... none of them were consulted because it is expected that there may be accountability arising from the report when it ultimately emerges. 

“For that reason, it had to be seen to be independent and if there was any contribution from any of the interested party, it would undermine that circumstance of independence. 

“That was his explanation this morning.” 

'Pure courtesy'

Mr Tansey said the Johnstons ‘accept fully’ that they could not shape the inquiry’s terms of reference; however, he said this should have been explained to them out of “pure courtesy” before it was publicly announced. 

“There were discussions last December," he said. 

"When Mr Gloster, the Chief Executive of the HSE, announced this inquiry there was no talk about the circumstance under which the terms of reference would be determined. 

“There was no talk about the fact that there would be no consultation with any of the interested parties.” 

The inquest is due to begin on April 21st.

Main image: Aoife Johnston.