James Johnston of Shannon, Co Clare, died peacefully in Milford Care Centre surrounded by his family on Friday, April 3, after an illness.
He was the father of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston, who died in University Hospital Limerick after contracting sepsis in 2022, and campaigned for justice for his daughter.
An inquest in 2024 concluded her death was due to medical misadventure, which the family had sought, after she waited 15 hours and 15 minutes for medication to treat meningitis and sepsis.
Her parents had watched Aoife’s condition deteriorate and pleaded for their critically ill daughter to be seen by a doctor.
Aoife Johnston died at University Hospital Limerick on December 19, 2022, aged just 16.
James’s funeral took place at 2pm on Monday afternoon at SS John & Paul Church, Tullyvarraga, Shannon, Co Clare, followed by burial in Illaunmanagh Cemetery.
In his eulogy, James’ brother, Mark, said James was “deeply devoted to his family” and his love for his daughters “knew no bounds”.
“Aoife was his pride and joy, and the bond they shared was something truly special, the kind of bond that shaped who he was, that gave his life meaning and purpose,” he told mourners. “When Aoife died, a part of James went with her.”
“The grief he carried was deep and constant, a weight no parent should ever have to bear, and one that he carried with quiet strength every single day.
“If the truth be known, I had always hoped that Aoife’s death would not come to define James or his life. I hoped that, in time, he might find some peace beyond the heartbreak.
“But the truth is, it did define him. The loss, the sorrow and the injustice he felt became something he carried every day and in many ways it consumed him.
File photo. Aoife Johnston’s sister Meagan with her parents Carol and James Johnston and her sister Kate Johnston at Kilmallock Court, Co Limerick in 2024. Photo: Brendan Gleeson
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“The loss of Aoife brought not only heartbreak but a deep and enduring sense of injustice. James carried anger and hurt rooted in unkept promises.
“This was not something he could simply set aside. It stayed with him day after day and weighed heavily on his heart.”
Mr Johnston added that the grief had a “significant impact” on his brother’s health and contributed to his illness.
“I truly believe that the strain and grief caused by this injustice had a significant impact on James’s health. The pain he carried with him undoubtedly contributed to his illness.
“This is not an easy truth to express, but it’s an important one, as it speaks to the depth of his love for Aoife and the profound effect her loss had on him.
“And as a consequence, his health declined, and he became seriously unwell.”
James is predeceased by his daughter Aoife and father Jim, and survived by his wife Carol, daughters Meagan and Kate, mother Evelyn, brothers Adrian and Mark, sister Maxine and his extended family.
Mark Johnston paid tribute to his brother, describing him as a “beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend”.
“Let us not forget, however, that James was also a loving and devoted father to his daughters, Meagan and Kate. He was so proud of them and his love for them was steady, strong and unwavering,” he said.
“Family was the foundation of his life, something he cherished deeply, protected fiercely, and always drew strength from, no matter what he was facing.
“And at the very heart of his world was his beloved wife, Carol. The love he had for Carol was like no other, constant, unwavering and deeply felt in everything he did.
“My brother was a deeply sensitive soul, someone who felt things profoundly and loved deeply, and someone we are all incredibly proud to call our brother.
“Despite everything he carried, James never lost his character. He was funny, witty and sharp with a mischievous streak that kept us all on our toes. He had a way of making people laugh, often when you least expected it.
“My brother was not loud or over the top, but clever, subtle, and always with that glint in his eye. His humour was a gift. And even in the hardest times, he never fully lost it. That spark, that personality is something we will carry with us always.
“He was an incredibly thoughtful person, someone who never forgot a birthday or never forgot an important moment.
“Even in the last weeks of my brother’s life when he was very ill in hospital, he made sure the birthday cards were organised for his nieces and nephew.
“That was James, always thinking of others, always caring even when he was going through so much himself,” he added.
Symbols of James’ life brought to the altar included car keys, a CD representing his love for music, the fishing reel, and the Liverpool jersey.
His brother Mark said: “Although his life was marked by great sorrow, it was filled with love, humour and loyalty. And perhaps it is fitting, in some small way, that this journey ended when it did.
“There is a belief rooted in Christian folklore and traditional Catholic faith that those who pass on Good Friday or indeed during Holy Week receive a special blessing and are granted swift passage into heaven and in that thought we find some degree of comfort.
“And while today is filled with sadness, we also take comfort in this, a belief that James is now at rest, reunited with his beloved Aoife, with our beloved father Jimmy, and with his mother-in-law Nuala.
“We take comfort in firmly believing that he and Aoife are together again. Believing that Aoife needs James right now, or James needs Aoife, or you know what, perhaps they simply need each other.
“James, you were deeply loved, and you give so much of yourself. And although our hearts are breaking, we will carry you with us always, in our memories, in our laughter, and in the quiet moments where we still feel your presence,” he added.
Mr Johnston later thanked the staff in Milford Care Centre who took care of his brother during his illness, including his nurse Aoife who was “incredibly kind and supportive”.