Lisa’s death has left family “shattered forever”, inquest told

Verdict of medical misadventure delivered at inquest into passing of Curry native Lisa Niland in 2017

A SLIGO family have spoken about how their lives have been “shattered forever” following an inquest into the death of Lisa Niland (19) from Drimbane, Curry, who died three days after she collapsed at a fast-food restaurant in 2017.

Dublin City Coroner Myra Cullinane found that Ms Niland died of a bleed to the brain.

Ms Cullinane delivered a verdict of medical misadventure at Tuesday’s inquest.

Speaking outside the coroner’s court after the inquest, Lisa’s younger sister Amy said: “Mine and my family’s lives have been shattered forever.

“My sister was a beautiful, kind, witty young woman, who touched so many hearts. Her smile and presence lit up the room.

“She had a gentleness so rarely found and saw the best in everything and everyone.”

Solicitor for the Niland family, Mr Damien Tansey, said: “This is an enormous family tragedy.”

What was described as a core issue at the inquest into Ms Nilan’s death concerned a delay at Sligo University Hospital in carrying out an emergency CT scan which disclosed a bleed on the brain.

Lisa collapsed at 8.30pm on January 17, 2017.

She was subsequently rushed to Sligo University Hospital where her father described Lisa as groggy and imbalanced.

“She got a sudden, massive pain in the back of her head. She slumped to the ground, then she vomited,” Mr Niland previously told the inquest, which resumed on Tuesday in Dublin.