Scarlett Faulkner passes away after life support turned off, family confirm

Limerick mum has been on life support at Cork University Hospital since she was assaulted with an iron bar on Saturday, March 21

Scarlett Faulkner, 29, was assaulted on March 21 at the side of the R494 road in Birdhill, Co Tipperary.

The heartbroken family of Scarlett Faulkner has taken to social media to say she has passed away.

The Limerick mother, 29, has been on life support at Cork University Hospital since she was critically injured in an assault at the side of the R494 road in Birdhill, Co Tipperary, on Saturday, March 21.

The family said her life support was switched off at 4pm on Sunday but that she had stayed breathing overnight on her own as they kept a vigil by her bedside and had continued to ask for prayers.

In an update on social media on Monday evening, her brother posted “RIP my lovely sister Scarlett”.

Her cousin Melissa McCarthy, who had kept the public updated via videos online, posted a montage of images of Scarlett, captioned: “Fly high our girl love you forever my beautiful cousin oh your poor family and little girl 13.04.2026.

“Goodbye our girl fly high your with the angels now, oh god mind aunt Mary and banny all your brothers and sisters especially your little girl nieces, nephews in-laws fly high your fought until the last.”

A woman aged in her 40s and a teenage girl have been charged in connection with the assault.

Ms Faulkner suffered critical head injuries in the attack. She is the mother of a six-year-old daughter.

Video footage of the attack was widely shared on social media, and An Garda Síochána has continued to appeal to people not to share it.