Kerry girl Saoirse Heffernan loses fight against Batten's Disease

A five-year-old girl from Co Kerry has lost her fight against the very rare and fatal neurological condition Batten's Disease.

Saoirse Heffernan died at her home in Keel early this morning.

The little girl's condition first came to the attention of the public last March when her parents, Mary and Tony, went public.

Their only other child, a son Liam, also has the fatal Late Infantile Batten's Disease.

Saoirse received treatment in the US last year but her condition deteriorated last October.

Her parents Mary and Tony say they are hopeful her brother will be able to undergo treatment for his condition in the US this year.