Brave Fionn, 7, dies of cancer
A BRAVE seven-year-old boy who has struggled with cancer since he was a toddler died yesterday surrounded by his family.
Fionn Doyle – who was honoured by the gardaí for his courage – had battled leukaemia since he was 18 months old.
Despite going into remission in 2016, the cancer returned and doctors broke the news to his parents Jack and Eimear in May that it was terminal. When he celebrated his seventh birthday in August, they knew it would be his last.
Eimear appealed on social media for people to send him a card to make his birthday special. The response was so great that the local gardaí and fire brigade provided an escort to deliver bags of cards, presents and boxes which had arrived from all over the world.
Fionn, from Kildorrery, north Co. Cork, was made an honorary garda and presented with his own uniform, as well as a specially struck medal for bravery from the Little Blue Heroes Foundation, set up by gardaí to help children with serious illnesses and their families.
In total, he received some 12,364 items, and it took him until early October to open them all up.
‘The joy it brought to Fionn and to all of us was immense,’ Eimear said at the time.
Fionn hadn’t been expected to survive until Christmas Day so the family had celebrated it on December 8, when Santa delivered presents early for him and his eight-year-old sister Saoirse.
On Facebook last night, the Little Blue Heroes Foundation said: ‘Our hearts are saddened to hear of the loss of one of our Little Blue Heroes, seven-year-old honorary garda Fionn Doyle from Cork, who passed away at his home last night surrounded by his loving family.
‘Fionn fought so bravely every step of the way. In police work we talk about bravery, honour and courage and Fionn exemplified all of that. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family.’
On RIP.ie, Fionn was described as the ‘darling son of Jack and Eimear and loving brother of Saoirse and Amy’. He will be cremated after a 12noon Mass of the Angels at St Bartholomew’s Church in Kildorrery tomorrow.