THE following is the full text of a statement issued by the family of Mrs Brigid Mc Cole yesterday.
"The family of Brid Mc Cole would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming show of sympathy and offers of help and support extended to us this last seven days.
"Though our mother is not with us here today we know in our hearts that she is finally at peace and would be happy that the powers that he have finally admitted to what she always knew to be their fault.
"It would have been easier for our mother to accept the rulings of the tribunal. However, all she really ever wanted was a public acknowledgment that a wrongdoing had been done. As it turned out, that decision resulted in a very difficult year for her. Despite the pain and hardship of travelling to and from Dublin for treatment, she never once faltered in her determination to have the truth told.
"In the end she was never allowed to state her case.
"Throughout her life our mother always put the family first and only in her final hours did she finally submit to putting her name to paper in order that, once again, she would be taking care of us to the best of her ability.
"In our hearts our mother is forever young and will be sadly missed, not only by her mother, husband, brothers, sons and daughters, but also the grandchildren that she will never get the chance to enjoy."