Four-year-old girl burned in horror firebomb attack loses fight for life

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl who suffered horrific burns in a firebomb attack lost her fight for life yesterday.

Katelyn Ryan had been on a life support machine at Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin since her home in Limerick was attacked last Sunday morning.

A family member confirmed Katelyn died late yesterday afternoon, with her father Robert by her side.

Tragically, the little girl's mother, Jackie Ryan, could not be with her young daughter, as she is still recovering in Cork University Hospital from serious injuries suffered in the same arson attack.

Mrs Ryan's one-year-old daughter Leah was also badly injured in the blaze. She remained in a stable condition in the intensive care unit of Limerick Regional Hospital last night.

"Katelyn's father was with her when she died. He's in a terrible state but his family are with him in Dublin," said Alice Roche, sister of Jackie Ryan.

"It's just a terrible time for all the family. All we can do now is pray. My parents are down in Cork with Jackie but she couldn't go to see Katelyn because she has to have an operation on her back," she added.

Jackie Ryan, 32, broke a bone in her back when she jumped from an upstairs bedroom clutching her youngest daughter Leah last Sunday morning.

Six other people including Robert Ryan, three of his children and two neighbouring children were fortunate to escape serious injury in the blaze, which gutted the house. Jim Roche, grandfather to Leah and Katelyn, fractured his leg while trying to rescue his family from the inferno.

Despite his injuries, the 63-year-old grandfather travelled to Cork yesterday with his wife Nora to be at their daughter Jackie's bedside.

"Our parents were with her when she was told about little Katelyn but it is very sad that she never got to say goodbye to her daughter," said Jackie's sister Alice.

Last night Alice Roche was comforting the other Ryan children Marissa, 7, Mark, 12, and Daragh, 14, at their home in Lenihan Avenue while other relatives were at little Leah's bedside at Limerick Regional Hospital.