Former UTV presenter Aideen Kennedy has died at the age of 43 after a battle with a terminal illness.
The beloved news presenter, who was a regular on UTV, the Irish version of ITV, told her 16,600 followers that she was “going home to die” after a spell in hospital with an illness.
She wrote on Friday (June 17): “So life has not gone well and I am as sick as I was as when I went in to hospital so essentially going home to die but getting palliative care. The kids know. If you ever come across them, will you [keep] an eye out for them, they are the kindest, sweetest most thoughtful kiddies.”
Sadly, her friend Emma Little-Pengelly confirmed on Saturday (June 18) that Aideen had died.
She tweeted: “Absolutely devastated. My beautiful, funny, kind friend Aideen has passed away. I will miss her terribly. We met 22 years ago when we shared a room for the summer in DC and became firm friends. Goodbye beautiful girl.”
And it wasn’t long until tributes began pouring in, with former UTV political editor Ken Reid tweeting: “Tonight the thought Aideen is no longer with us is just heart breaking. A decent soul who suffered too much. The news has stunned many of us. We all need to take care. God bless her. RIP.”
A number of people left heartfelt comments under Aideen’s final tweet too.
One person said: “Aideen, please know the difference you made to families like mine when you reported on their lives with compassion, empathy and love. I am sending so much love and strength to you tonight.”
Tragically, Aideen is the fourth out of four siblings to die, after previously losing her sister Fiona and brothers Dara and Rory.
Dara died of a brain tumour in 2016. Fiona was diagnosed with cancer and died the same year.
And Rory was killed in a road accident when he was a toddler.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
