Teenager whose best friend died is in stable condition

A TEENAGER, whose best friend died after taking a lethal mixture of painkilling pills and spirits, remained in a stable condition in hospital last night.

Gardaí are waiting to speak to 14-year-old Alicia McGowan to find out whether her friend Geraldine Chambers, also 14, died while they experimented with drink and pills or whether the two girls were involved in a so-called suicide pact.

Alicia’s family remained at her bedside in Letterkenny General Hospital last night.

She was stable but remained in intensive care for much of the day.

The two girls were found huddled together in a field just a few hundred yards from their homes in Rossiger, Co Donegal, shortly after 9.40am on Monday.

Alicia was found unconscious, but her best friend Geraldine was dead. Geraldine’s older brother Colin made the discovery.

A post mortem examination was carried out on the body on Monday night by Assistant State Pathologist Marie Cassidy.

She ruled out foul play as the cause of death.

A Garda spokesman said: “Further tests are required, the results of which will take some weeks to be established.” These include toxicology tests.

A priest told of the scene when visiting the site where Geraldine’s body was found. “It was really heartbreaking to see the body of someone so young in that field,” said Fr John Doherty.

“I said a few prayers for Geraldine before her body was taken to hospital for the post mortem.” Fr Doherty called to the girl’s home to speak to her mother and two brothers. The family live in Rossgier, a townland near Lifford.

“We were in a total stage of shock. I doubt if they realised the enormity of what had happened at that time.

“I didn’t have any answers for them. I just stayed with them and tried to give whatever comfort and support I could.”

Fr Doherty said it was very difficult for Geraldine’s older brother Colin, as he found his dead sister’s body.

“It was around about 10am yesterday morning when he found the two girls. It must have been a tremendous shock for someone so young to have made such a discovery.”

Fr Doherty visited Alicia in Letterkenny Hospital where she is recovering. “She is in the intensive care unit and is now deemed to be in a stable condition. I was talking to her mother and she does expect her daughter to recover.”

There have been four known sudden deaths of young people in north Donegal within the last five weeks. All are believed to have taken their own lives.

They include two young men who lived close to where the two young girls were found. One is believed to have been a friend of Geraldine’s.

Fr James Sweeney, a counsellor in the area, has argued that counselling must be made more accessible to those who cannot afford to pay. Many people are reluctant to go through their GPs as required by health boards generally, he says.