HEALTH Minister Michelle O’Neill has today (Friday) made attempts to respond to a heart rending letter penned by Emma Reilly, the brave Enniskillen lady who is facing unspeakable suffering after the sudden deaths of her two beautiful sisters.

Emma wrote the letter to Michelle O’Neill on January 16, one month after the death of her youngest sister, Shauna. 

It was also the day that Stormont collapsed.

Emma received no reply.

After reading an article in this weeks Impartial Reporter newspaper, the Department for Health set up a telephone conversation between the Minister and Ms. O'Reilly.

In her letter, Emma very eloquently outlined her youngest sister’s long struggle to “get better” and stated:

“We as a family have fought a tireless battle with the NHS Mental Health Service, one which sadly we have lost but there is potential for other families to be helped and other people suffering to be healed. 

“I ask as our current minister that you look into the services we have, the gaps that exist and the potential for extra funding [and] that you make Mental Health and Suicide Prevention the top of your agenda.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter following the sudden death of her oldest sister Michelle last week, Emma said: “There’s a lack of mental health services in Fermanagh. Money is being pumped into cancer services and people are benefitting but mental health hasn’t been getting any funding and people are suffering.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “The Minister is deeply saddened to hear of the tragic deaths of Shauna and Michelle Reilly, and extends her sympathy to Emma Reilly and the entire family circle. 

“Unfortunately, the Department has no record of receiving correspondence from Ms. Reilly as reported in the Impartial Reporter yesterday. The Minister will contact Ms Reilly as a matter of urgency.”

Emma sent the same letter to Sinn Fein MLAs Sean Lynch and Michelle Gildernew and SDLP MLA Richie McPhillips. Mr. McPhillips was the only one to reply and Michelle Gildernew replied after reading yesterday's newspaper article.

Lifeline:  0808 808 8000

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