Death announced of hospital reform campaigner James Johnston

Mr Johnston and his family had publicly campaigned for reform and change at UHL in the wake of his daughter Aoife’s death in December 2022 

The Johnston family publicly campaigned for reform and change at University Hospital Limerick in the wake of teenager Aoife’s death in December 2022. File picture: Brendan Gleeson

Tributes are being paid to the late hospital reform campaigner James Johnston, whose daughter Aoife Johnston died aged just 16 in University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

Mr Johnston died on Friday morning after being ill with cancer, his family said. They said he is pain-free now after his illness and back with his baby Aoife.

He is mourned by his wife Carol, their daughters Meagan and Kate, and the extended family.

Mr Johnston and his family had publicly campaigned for reform and change at UHL in the wake of Aoife’s death in December 2022. 

She died from meningitis, two days after being admitted with symptoms of sepsis.

Mr Johnston told her about how he had tried to get her help in the overcrowded emergency department, but to no avail.

A report into the circumstances of her death by former chief justice Frank Clarke fed into a decision by health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to fund a new hospital for Limerick and the surrounding counties.

The family shared the sad news about Mr Johnston with the patient advocacy group Midwest Hospital Campaign on Friday afternoon.

The campaign's Marie McMahon said that although it was known Mr Johnston had been ill for some time, it was still a horrible shock to hear.

“It still hurts a lot, and our hearts go out to them really,” she said. 

Hard fight to get justice for Aoife

“They fought so hard to get justice for Aoife, and now they’re dealing with another tragedy within a matter of years.” 

It must be “heartbreaking” for them, she said.

“They did great work and fought so hard to get justice. He did that, he was part of that as well,” she said.

Ms McMahon said everyone involved in the campaign is thinking of Carol, Meagan, and Kate Johnston and their family on the sad loss of their father James. 

“He is reunited with his beloved daughter Aoife,” she said.

Tributes are being paid to Mr Johnston online, with many people sharing similar sentiments.