THE family of a boy seriously injured in a fatal road traffic collision last week were initially informed that he died in the crash, sources close to the family have claimed.
12-year-old Jason Hogan from Thomondgate was initially brought to St James’s Hospital in Dublin, but was transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital after it emerged he was a juvenile, the sources added.
Jason suffered severe burns to one side of his body, however, his face was spared from the effects of a fire that engulfed the car he was travelling in with three men, including his uncle Patrick.
His mother, Jillian Hogan, “was told her child was dead and the next she was told he’s alive,” the family source told the Limerick Post.
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“The poor girl was all over the place.”
Ms Hogan’s 30-year old brother Patrick, who was killed outright in the horror road crash at Quinspool, was buried this Thursday.
A second victim, Jonathan Healy, (24), from Kileely, was laid to rest on Wednesday.
A fourth man, named locally as Adam Carver, is being treated for injuries at University Hospital Limerick.
Meanwhile, an online fundraiser https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jasons-family has been set up to help Ms Hogan cope with expenses as she kept vigil by the bed of her seriously ill son.
Aisling Hogan, a relative who set up the Go Fund Me page said: “I can’t actually believe how well it’s after taking off. I said that would be something to help JIllian up and down to Dublin. My plan was just to make as much as I could and to give her something each week to help her.”
“It’s fantastic. The support of strangers and the people around the community is brilliant.”
“Jillian has three younger kids and it’s not going to be easy for her. When you think of the expenses of staying in Dublin and trying to keep three other kids down here, it’s going to cost her, especially the accommodation, train fares, food, trying to leave money down here for two small babies.”
“This is just trying to get her through. She is going to need help. Up to last Saturday, she was sleeping on a chair.”
“Jason is still in an induced coma, with 22 per cent grade four burns. He’s holding his own, but he is still critical. Hopefully, he makes a recovery, at some stage,” she said.
“He has swelling on his brain and that’s why they are keeping him in a coma.”
“You couldn’t meet a nicer family. They never caused trouble in all their lives.”
Ms Hogan said she did not know what led to the single vehicle crash in the early hours of last Thursday morning.
“I don’t think anyone knows until after the investigation is properly done. As far as we heard, they were only going to the shop. That’s all they were doing. It’s shocking.”
“I can’t believe the generosity of strangers and the community and people sharing the fundraising page. I’m thrilled it has taken off because every little penny helps.”
Gardaí said they were not releasing the results of the post mortem for operational reasons.
A spokesman confirmed they didn’t believe there was anything suspicious about the incident and that they were treating it as a tragic incident.
Witnesses are asked to contact Mayorstone Garda Station (061-456980) or the Garda Confidential line (1800-666-111).