Grieving dad of anorexia victim says families should ‘stick with’ sufferers

The father of a woman who died from chronic anorexia implored families in similar situations to “stick with” the sufferer following the inquest into her death.

“It is extraordinarily difficult to deal with it,” said John Keoghan. “It is not normal behaviour at all. It is impossible to deal with it. Families who have children with anorexia, they should stick with them, stay with them. Be kind to them and show them love. It is a long-term thing”.

Mr Keoghan was speaking outside Dublin Coroner’s Court after the conclusion of the inquest on his daughter Eva Keoghan, 40, a mother of one, who was found collapsed in her room at a Dublin City Council-run hostel on the South Circular Rd, Dublin 8, in the early hours of September 22, 2012. Ms Keoghan had suffered from anorexia for 20 years and most of her organs were atrophied — or wasted away — by the time she died.