Family of Longford woman Bryonny Sainsbury want answers about delay of report into her death

The parents of a Bryonny Sainsbury, the 25-year-old Newtownforbes woman who died from a serious brain injury, will meet with the Tánaiste Micheál Martin today as they await a report into her death.

Alison and Chris Sainsbury lost their daughter after she was kicked in the head by a horse on August 26, 2021.

An inquest into the death by Coroner Cróna Gallagher last February returned a verdict of 'medical misadventure', a term referring to death as an unintended result of medical treatment, in the death of the young Newtownforbes woman.

Bryonny, of Briskil, Newtownforbes, died from her injuries in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin five days later, after originally being treated at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.

Since the February inquest Bryonny’s family have been waiting for the finalisation of a review into her death by the HSE, which the family expected to have been completed a year ago.

Also read: Family of Longford hairdresser Bryonny Sainsbury will continue fight for answers as to why she died

The Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) has apologised to Bryonny's family for the significant delay in publishing a report into her death.

That apology stated that while the report is at an advanced stage, it is subject to a legal review and is not completed. The review team has received legal advice outlining that the draft report cannot be shown to the family until the “required processes” under the Incident Management Framework 2020 “have been completed in full”.

Ahead of the meeting the family are hopeful that the Tánaiste can expedite matters: “Our main question is why is there delay, after delay in Mullingar Regional hospital to deliver the review they have promised us over a years ago,” an exasperated Alison Sainsbury told the Leader.

PICTURES| Longford public turns out in their droves to remember late Bryonny Sainsbury

Alison says the delay is a source of anguish for the family: “It's something they started, this internal review. The delay prolongs everything. It's not that we are ever going to move on, but it makes it that much harder to get on with life. These delays do not help.”

Deputy Joe Flaherty facilitated the meeting between the family and Tánaiste Micheál Martin in the Dáil this afternoon.

Also read: Review into death of Longford woman Bryonny Sainsbury ‘should be released to family’