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Ava Barry, the daughter of medicinal cannabis campaigner Vera Twomey, has died aged 13

Ava’s mother Vera Twomey caught the nation’s attention during a two-and a-half year campaign to secure medical cannabis to treat her daughter.

AVA BARRY – A young girl with a rare form of epilepsy whose mother campaigned fiercely to have her granted a medicinal cannabis licence – has died. She was 13 years of age.

Ava’s mother Vera Twomey caught the nation’s attention during a two-and a-half year campaign to secure medical cannabis to treat her daughter. 

Ava was diagnosed Dravet’s syndrome when she was a baby, a rare form of severe epilepsy. She suffered from severe and prolonged seizures through out her life, which her mother highlighted as part of her campaign.

Twomey managed to obtain the medicinal marijuana licence form then-Health Minister Simon Harris in 2017, after years of campaigning which included two 260-kilometre walks from Cork to the Dáil in 2016 and 2017.

Ava died last night peacefully at Cork University Hospital surrounded by family.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny – who was heavily involved in Vera’s Twomey’s campaign – paid tribute to Ava this evening, saying that her mother’s campaign had led to better access to medicinal cannabis for children in need.

“It’s a very, very sad time for the family and the many people that supported Vera and Ava to get access to medicinal cannabis,” he said.

Obviously Vera’s family had to go through a long, long, long process to get access for Ava. But that process had made it easier for other families to get access. 
Kenny said that access to medicinal cannabis had provided great relief to Ava in the time that she had it. He said that Twomey’s campaign had garnered huge public support.
“When Vera went walking from Cork to the Dáil that was followed by hundreds of thousands of people,” he said. 

“The amount of goodwill that was shown by the Irish people was unbelievable. That eventually did change the law in Ireland, in terms of access.

It was always about the love of her child and that love was always enduring.

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    Mute J P
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    May 27th 2023, 6:53 PM

    Rest in peace

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    Mute Caoimhin Mag Oireachtaigh
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    May 27th 2023, 6:58 PM

    May she rest in peace, her mother was a legend too

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    Mute John O'Reilly
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    May 27th 2023, 7:04 PM

    Terrible news. For her to be denied the relief that she needed for so long is shameful.

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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    May 27th 2023, 7:21 PM

    Very sad news. Her family did everything they could for her. RIP

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    Mute Gearoid Conroy
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    May 27th 2023, 6:56 PM

    RIP

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    Mute Jennifer Kelly
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    May 27th 2023, 7:00 PM

    So devastated to hear

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    Mute Tony Delaney
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    May 27th 2023, 6:58 PM

    Rest in peace

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    Mute John O Mahony
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    May 27th 2023, 7:05 PM

    May she rest in eternal peace

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    Mute Greg
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    May 27th 2023, 7:13 PM

    RIP , brave girl

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    Mute Geoff Bateman
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    May 27th 2023, 7:13 PM

    May the Lord keep her happy in his Heaven and free from her terrible affliction.Rest in Peace

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    Mute Jo Grant Fahey
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    May 27th 2023, 7:19 PM

    R.I.P. Ava, thoughts with your family.

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    Mute Kenmark
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    May 27th 2023, 7:58 PM

    Rest in peace Ava. A sweet little angel. Awfully sad :(

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    Mute Thomas Meaney
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    May 27th 2023, 7:46 PM

    Rest in Peace Ava. Very well done and thank you for your persistence.

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