The family of Caitlin McLaughlin, who died aged 16 after taking an ecstasy tablet at a music festival, have warned other young people about the dangers of drugs. Caitlin had travelled to Belfast with her friends for the concert and collapsed while on her way to the bus. Her friends initially thought Caitlin had gone over on her ankle but she had in fact taken a heart attack and passed away in hospital. Caitlin’s uncle, Mo Mahon, described his niece as a bubbly girl who loved life and said her family was devastated by her death. A mural dedicated to Caitlin will be unveiled in Galliagh on Friday – on what would have been her 17th birthday – and a balloon release will take place to mark the occasion.
Speaking about the mural, Lucy Mahon, Caitlin’s aunt, said it was a beautiful thing to have but also hard for the family to deal with. The family live close to the park where the mural has been installed and Caitlin’s grannies live in the street directly facing. Ciara McLaughlin, another aunt, said Caitlin’s death had been a total shock and described her as a “funny, bubbly wee person” who was never into drugs. The family now wants to raise awareness about the risks associated with drug taking.
Mo Mahon said there were no words to describe the pain felt by the family. He added that the mural kept Caitlin’s memory alive but also had a wider message: “Caitlin went out as a teenager to have fun. She experimented, took a drug and is no longer here. People do not know what they are taking… We don’t want this to happen to another family.” Caitlin’s aunt Aileen said: “I hope the mural opens people’s eyes to the danger of drugs and a young life gone too soon. She never even got to see her GCSE results.”
If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, please visit BBC Action Line to find information on organisations that can help
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More