It recently came to light that Stephanie Knox, who helped save a baby in the Buncrana pier tragedy two years ago, is seeking damages after witnessing what happened.

 

Stephanie, a cardio physiologist, told the Irish Independent that she didn't realise the estate of Sean McGrotty would be included in the proceedings.

 

Sean McGrotty (49) lost his life on March 20, 2016, along with his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels (59), and her daughter Jodi-Lee (14) when the car they were in slid off the slipway into Lough Swilly.

 

Stephanie is the second person to issue proceedings against the estate, with Louise Knox being the first. Louise lost her partner Sean McGrotty, two sons, her mother, and a sister in the tragedy. She sued Donegal County Council (which owns the pier) and the estate.

 

Sean and Louise's daughter Rioghnach Ann was rescued from the sinking vehicle by Stephanie's former partner, Davitt Walsh.

 

 

Stephanie is suing for 'loss of earnings and other matters', with action being against the council and the solicitor acting as the executor of Sean McGrotty's estate.

 

As a result of the estate being included in this, Stephanie has received a slew of abusive messages.

 

Now Noel McGrotty, Sean's 86-year-old father, has expressed concerns about the backlash the cardio physiologist has received.

 

He told the Irish Independent, "I do not know the wee girl but the only thing I’m afraid of now is that the public opinion might be damaging her."

 

 

“My family doesn’t want that. The newspapers aren’t thinking of the consequences of this...The wee girl must have suffered psychological shock and I can understand that.

 

“This is in the hands of our solicitors. Life has to go on, I’m that type of person.”

 

Stephanie had explained that she continues to experience PTSD from witnessing five people lose their lives:

 

"I’ve been suffering ever since that day. It took me a long time to get help because I was afraid to talk about the accident I just wanted to hide it. This has just been a horrible nightmare."

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