Family: ‘On Friday they are disconnecting Scarlett from her life support machine’
16:34, 09 Apr 2026Updated 16:53, 09 Apr 2026
Scarlett Faulkner (29)
Fears are growing for Scarlett Faulkner as her family shared a deeply heartbreaking update, revealing that “things are not looking good” as medics prepare to disconnect her life support machine on Friday.
The 29-year-old mum-of-one, from Limerick city, remains critically ill at Cork University Hospital after suffering catastrophic injuries in a roadside attack near Birdhill, Co Tipperary, almost two weeks ago. She received devastating head injuries from the attack that happened on a busy road on Saturday evening, March 21.
A woman and a 16-year-old girl, who have been charged in connection with the serious assault of Scarlett, aged 29, in Birdhill last Saturday week, appeared in court, via video link, last Wednesday.
Now, in an emotional update on social media, Josephine Duffy, the partner of Scarlett’s brother Thomas, said medics have made a decision to disconnect Scarlett from her life support machine on Friday, as they remain by her side during her final moments, the Irish Mirror reports.
“Update on Scarlett, things are not looking good. I’m here with Thomas’s sister, Mary,” said Josephine. “On Friday, they are disconnecting Scarlett from her life support machine.”
On behalf of the family, Josephine thanked the public for the wave of prayers and support, saying these “did not go unnoticed,” and asked that people now pray for peace for Scarlett in the time ahead, while also hoping for justice.
The devastating update has left many shaken, as those closest to Scarlett prepare for the unimaginable in the coming days. One pal wrote on social media on hearing the devastating news, “It’s a very sad world we live in, a young woman stole of life, thinking of her heartbroken family in the hard week that lies ahead of them.”
Scarlett’s heartbroken sister Joanne wrote: “I’m lost for words. My heart is broken. My beautiful baby sister,” while a devastated niece wrote: “Never thought I’d see this day, Aunty Scarlett. You didn’t deserve none of this. Only a young girl with your whole life ahead of you. You left us all heartbroken. We’re gonna be lost without you. Your baby girl means the whole world to you. She’s gonna be lost without you aunty. We have memories to last a lifetime. I love you with all my heart.”
Scarlett, a respected member of a Traveller family from Limerick county, was beaten by a group armed with weapons at the side of the R494 in Birdhill.
The motive for the savage assault remains unclear. Ms Faulkner continues to fight for her life in hospital following the horrific assault. She was found by emergency services with catastrophic head injuries on the side of the road. She is believed to have been attacked by one or more people armed with weapons and left for dead at the side of the road around 5.30 pm on Saturday.
Gardai are working on several theories regarding the assault, including that innocent Ms Faulkner may have been travelling in a car that was rammed by a group in another vehicle, dragged from her car, and attacked with implements at the side of the road.
Detectives at Nenagh Garda Station are continuing to investigate the attack. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on (067) 05450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.