The family of a young Galway girl diagnosed with a rare disease who called for the introduction of routine testing for the illness have announced the death of their ‘queen’ daughter Maebhe. Maebhe Gorman was diagnosed with a rare inherited condition shortly before her second birthday last year with trips to physiotherapists and doctors in Galway and Temple Street Hospital, Dublin, revealing that the tot had Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), which causes the progressive loss of physical and mental skills. Maebhe passed away on Monday, August 5, 2024, in the arms of her parents, Veronica and John, surrounded by her heartbroken family, aged just 2 years old, with the GoFundMe set up in the tot’s honour confirming that her family were broken following the tragic news.

The ‘beautiful little angel’ is survived by her parents, big sister Tina, her grannies and granddads, aunties and uncles, cousins and a huge circle of friends. Her RIP.ie death notice reads: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts we share the sad news our beautiful, baby Warrior, Queen Maebhe, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2024, aged 2 years.

‘Maebhe was in the loving arms of her Mammy and Daddy, surrounded by her adoring family. We are broken.’ It continued: ‘Our brave Maebhe has lost her battle but she touched so many lives in her tiny life.

We are grateful to everyone for everything over the last nine months. ‘Maebhe will be eternally missed by her mammy Veronica, Daddy John, her big siste.