Scarlett Faulkner: Life support to be switched off, but family 'still holding out hope for a miracle' 

Ms Faulkner suffered critical head injuries in the attack, which occurred at a roadside location outside Birdhill village in March. 

Life support for Scarlett Faulkner, the young mother critically injured in an assault last month, is to be turned off, according to her family. 

The family had been told initially that it would be Friday but that has now been delayed until at least Sunday as they await the results of a final medical test.

In an update shared online, her cousin Melissa McCarthy said the family had met with consultants and had initially been told that life support would be withdrawn on Friday.

“Yesterday when we saw the consultants, they said Friday that they were taking the tubes out, because 99% the sedation has worn off and there is no reaction and there was no change since the day Scarlett went into the hospital,” she said.

However, she explained that the process cannot proceed until the results of a final test, which is being carried out in the UK, are returned.

“They are waiting for one test, which they thought would be back today. That test is not back until Sunday or Monday,” she said.

“This is the last test, so they can legally, I suppose, take out the tube. So as of tomorrow [Friday], the tubes aren’t coming out. It could be Sunday, it could be Monday.”

Earlier, in an emotional social media post about the 29-year-old assaulted in Birdhill, Co Tipperary, Josephine (Joanne) Duffy, the partner of Scarlett’s brother Thomas, made an appeal for help in arranging her funeral and said the family were told the life support is to be switched off.

“Things are not looking good,” she said.

She posted the video appeal along with a post, in which she said: “I'll love u forever and always Scarlett, my heart is broken.” 

Scarlett's niece, Rhianna McDonagh, also shared a heartfelt message last night, alongside pictures.

"Never thought I'd see this day aunty Scarlett. You didn't deserve none of this only a young girl with your whole life ahead of you. You left us all heartbroken. We're gonna be lost without you auntie. Your baby girl means the whole world to you she's gonna be lost without you auntie. 

"We have memories to last a lifetime I love you with all my heart," she wrote.

Despite the devastating prognosis, the family say they continue to hope for a miracle.

“The family still want all the prayers because, of course, they are still hoping for a miracle,” Ms McCarthy said. 

“But they did talk to the consultants and they did tell them how it is.” 

Throughout the week, relatives have shared images of angels and Padre Pio online and have visited holy wells as they kept vigil at Scarlet’s bedside. The young mother, in her 20s, was assaulted on March 21.

Two people — a woman in her 40s and a teenage girl — have been charged in connection with the assault.

Ms Faulkner suffered critical head injuries in the attack, which occurred at a roadside location outside Birdhill village at around 5.30pm on March 21. She is the mother of a six-year-old daughter.

Video footage of the attack was widely shared on social media, and gardaí have continued to appeal to people not to share it.

The family also appealed to the public not to post any pictures or footage after a picture of Scarlett in hospital circulated online.

They said these were “distressing for the family to see”.

A 16-year-old girl and a woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the serious assault.