Annie O’Donoghue: Mother left shocked after tragic daughter’s grave is targeted by cruel vandals

Annie O’Donoghue has visited her daughter Amanda’s grave at Mount St Oliver’s cemetery in Limerick every day since she died in 2022.

But last Saturday she was horrified to discover the young mum’s memorial had been targeted and smashed to pieces.

“It is still hard to take in, I can’t believe that it happened. I didn’t think anyone would stoop that low,” she said.

The disturbing attack resulted in an outpouring of sympathy and anger on social media where images and videos of the destruction have been circulating.

Annie added that she is getting so many messages of support she hasn’t been able to get back to everybody who has been in contact.

“It is a bit consoling, sure everyone is outraged at what is after happening. I’ve never heard of that happening in my life to anyone’s grave,” she said.

Amanda (31) died shortly after being discharged from hospital in 2022, where staff were “checking her for pneumonia and for Covid”.

It emerged later that she had fluid in her chest, according to Annie, but died from a heart attack at her Hyde Road home.

“I found her. I found her on the bedroom floor,” she said.

It is not only Annie who is dealing with the shock of the mindless vandalism. Her daughter Lisa, whose partner died two weeks after Amanda, has also been affected.

Amanda’s daughter, Charlene, was also left distraught after going to the cemetery to see what had happened.

“She walked away as soon as she’d seen it, she couldn’t stay,” said Annie.

Her focus is now on restoring the grave: “We are already in the process but it will be some time in July, hopefully before her birthday.”

The incident has also left Annie angry and she wants to see those responsible face justice.

“I was hoping something is going to be done after that, what’s going to stop them doing it again? I’m hoping the guards can do something about this,” she said.

She fears that people could get into trouble over it “if they get their hands on the people who have done it”.

Annie said local people know who vandalised the grave and claimed that gardai are also aware of their identities.

A grave memorial of a man connected to Amanda’s family was also damaged in the incident.

She said the vandalism came out of the blue. “Nothing happened. It was just out of the blue, there’s things going on all the time — it doesn’t have to spark something like this,” she said.