Parents appeal for help to build respite centre in honour of Liam, 4

It is unlikely that Tony and Mary Heffernan’s son, Liam, will live long enough to see the opening of Ireland’s first rare disease respite centre, that his loving parents have named after him.

“Having lost our beautiful daughter Saoirse and with Liam deteriorating, we know first-hand what it is like to provide full-time care to our children with very little supports available,” Tony said.

Liam, 4, is suffering from Battens disease, an extremely rare and fatal condition that claimed the life of his sister Saoirse in Jan 2011.