'I'll never be whole again'... Mother of Mia Lily pens heartbreaking letter to driver of car that fatally injured 16-year-old Navan girl

Louise Walsh

The mother of the 16 year old who died in a hit and run accident in Co Meath at the weekend said she 'will never be whole again'

Mia Lily Keogh O'Keeffe was walking with her dog on Saturday evening in Navan when she was struck by a car on the Slane Road by a car that failed to stop at the scene.

In a heartfelt post on social media to the driver, Mia Lily's mother Louise said her daughter was incredibly talented and her death had caused her the 'deepest pain.'

She wrote: "I know this will find you easily, just as easily as people found her name and photos and just as easily as you took her from me.

"You need to hear what your negligence has caused. It starts with a mistake, that leads to a consequence, she was the consequence and you have started an unbearable ripple of grief.

"It starts with me, I'm her mother, I carried her and gave her life and she gave me the most beautiful gift of being her mother. She truly was a gift and a most talented girl. She taught herself crafts and was an incredible artist of many different kinds, everything from crocheting to painting and clay.

"She taught herself languages, just because she was that clever. You stopped it in its tracks. Her learning, her talent, you took her dreams from her.

"She was going on holiday with her school in a couple weeks. Her clothes will be delivered and her bag lays unpacked. I got her a personalised name tag made for it that will never get used.

"She was my daughter, but she was also a sister. Her sister left behind and her three baby brothers are never going to have the same life, because you've taken a part of them away

"My youngest baby is two and she was his go to person. He doesn't understand why she's not in her room. She was a cousin, a niece, a granddaughter and a friend. You've taken so much from everyone because she, as a person, was so much to so many

"But as her mother, I can't tell you the deepest pain you've caused me. I will never be whole again, my heart will always ache and long to hold her and hear her laugh. The horror you've made me see will play on repeat in my head.

"My beautiful daughter, how you left her, my God have mercy on you."

Meanwhile, Mia Lily was remembered by her fellow students and staff at Loreto St Michael's Secondary School in Navan today.

"Loreto St Michael’s and the whole Loreto Community is deeply saddened by the tragic death of our 5th year student Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe. We would like to express our sincere condolences to Mia Lily’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time.

"As a school we have support structures in place to help all students and we have sought guidance from NEPS (National Educational Psychology Services).

Prayer for Mia Lily

“Lord, we come to you in our sorrow and shock at the death of Mia Lily. We thank you for the gift of her life and the joy she brought to the school. We pray for her family - surround them with your love and comfort them in this deep loss. Be with her friends and classmates, helping us to support one another. We place Mia Lily into your loving hands, trusting she is at peace. Amen”.