Chloe Kinsella’s death - Family’s appeal

The funeral yesterday of Limerick teenager Chloe Kinsella is a tragic reminder of the fragility of youth and the heartbreak the death of a young person can bring to family, friends and community.

The body of the 15-year-old Limerick girl was recovered from the River Shannon on Friday, six days after she had gone missing.

She was upset following an argument and had also been devastated by the recent death of a friend who drowned in a swimming accident.

Despite their grief, Chloe’s family appealed to teenagers to seek help if they are troubled, saying that suicide is never the answer to life’s problems.

As Fr Pat Seaver remarked at her funeral Mass: “The hard fact about parental love for teenagers is that often it has to be a tough love.” That makes the courage of her family all the more remarkable.