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IT’S A tragedy that strikes the hearts of many families, but those in Donegal, more than most, have suffered the loss of a loved one due to road deaths. The statistics showed that the area accounted for 43% of all crash fatalities in the whole country. Catherine travelled to Donegal to get to the heart of the issue. THE HSE was planning to close the shared residential care home in Drumcar, Co Louth where mentally disabled Miceal McManus, 54, lived. Instead of consulting with his sisters, the state body decided they would only plan Miceal’s living arrangements with him, even though he cannot communicate. Catherine covered his plight. CATHERINE was in court for the case of Offaly doctor Bernadette Scully, accused of manslaughter of disabled daughter Emily, 11. Catherine wrote: ‘By now, Bernadette Scully’s head was hanging so low ... it was hard to make the words out. “We had always been together,” she sobbed. “She was the little baby I always wanted.”’