Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Wednesday 21°CThursday 22°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
CoronavirusHealthLead Stories

Hospital staff praised for bringing dying couple together

written by cassoscoop February 5, 2021
ShareTweet

Blossom and Barney McGlinchey who died hours apart in Altnagelvin Hospital from Coronavirus

HOSPITAL staff have been praised for the dedicated care they showed a Co Derry couple who died within six minutes of each other from Coronavirus.

Barney and Sarah ‘Blossom’ McGlinchey from Greysteel died on Wednesday, January 20, from COVID-19 after spending almost two weeks in Altnagelvin Hospital.

They were in separate wards, but staff brought them together to be with each other in their final moments.

Only one of their daughters was with them due to Coronavirus restrictions.

Barney, passed away first at 4:55 pm, while HIS devoted wife Sarah, known affectionately to family and firends as Blossom, passed away shortly after at 5.01 pm.

The couple were holding hands when they took their last breaths.

Barney, 81, and 78-year-old Blossom, who had five children and seven grandchildren, were absolutely devoted to each other, their daughter Lynne Gray said.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Mrs Gray praised the outstanding care provided to her parents by hospital staff during their family’s “most difficult time”.

“As much as we respected the restrictions and the reason they are in place to protect the wider community, it was really, really hard to think that your parents are alone in a sealed off room,” she said.

“That they are with strangers and that you can’t be with them in their final hours.”

Mrs Gray said the family had mostly been corresponding with the couple through letters while they were in hospital.

“When they were fit enough they would read their own letters, but when they weren’t the nurses would read them for them.

Lynne Gray says her father and mother were devoted to each other

“We knew they weren’t returning, but we wanted to keep their hope.”

She said the family received a phone call on 20 January to say her parents’ condition had drastically deteriorated and “were soon to be on their final journey”.

The consultant on her father’s ward said they would like to bring her father from his ward to be with his wife.

“We know that they (hospital staff) wanted us as a family to be with our parents, but the restrictions prevented that for the betterment for the wider community,” she said.

“As difficult as it was for us, we know it was equally as difficult for the nursing and caring staff at Altnagelvin Hospital.”

Mrs Gray said the family’s biggest fear was for them to die alone in hospital and said knowing they spent their last moments together in the company of her older sister Libby was of huge comfort.

She urged people to take the virus more seriously and to follow public health guidance.

“Listen to the professionals, trust the experts that we need to guide us through this pandemic.”

Mrs Gray added her lasting memory of her mum and dad would be their love for one another, their love of family and their faith.

Mr and Mrs McGlinchey, from Foyle Avenue, had five children and seven grandchildren.

A spokesman for the local St Mary’s Faughanvale GAA club said at the time of their deaths that Mr and Mrs McGlinchey were well known in the area.

The spokesman said: “The couple were highly regarded in our community.

“Barney was a loyal supporter of not only our teams but also our club initiatives, including the ‘Winter Walks’ at John McLaughlin Park.”

Requiem Mass under Coronavirus restrictions was held for Mr and Mrs McGlinchey at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, Faughanvale.

Hospital staff praised for bringing dying couple together was last modified: February 5th, 2021 by cassoscoop

Tags:
ALTNAGELVIN HOSPITALBARNEY MCGLINCHEYBlossom McGlincheyCO DERRYCoronavirusCOVID-19daughter Lynne GraygreysteelHospital staff praised for bringing dying couple togetherpandemic restrictionsSarah McGlinchey
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Historic US flag stolen from Derry college

9 mins ago

New baby monitor units arrive at Altnagelvin...

17 hours ago

Durkan: Executive must act now or more...

20 hours ago

Man released over stabbing incident in Derry

23 hours ago

TV series to examine Katie Simpson’s death...

24 hours ago

Together Always – Loving mother and daughter...

2 days ago

Man arrested in Derry over £6k drugs...

2 days ago

Empowering lives: ERG provides boost for Glenshane...

2 days ago

Man arrested over Derry stabbing incident

2 days ago

Funeral of mother and daughter killed in...

4 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Man charged to court over Derry drugs seizure

    July 6, 2025
  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025
  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy