This is the full statement issued yesterday by Cahill & Co Solicitors, 23 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, on behalf of Ronnie and Maura O'Donovan, following the death of their 15-year-old adopted daughter, Kim:
We adopted Kim in late 1985 when she was 18 months old. She became the third child of our family, joining her brothers, Andrew and Stephen. She grew up in a normal, loving, caring family environment. She attended mainstream school, and participated in all usual children's activities.
Kim was always disturbed. From an early age we consulted with her teachers, with child counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists in relation to Kim's problems. As a result of professional advice received, Kim was in 1997 committed to the care of the Eastern Health Board. She was in residential care in Wicklow until late July of this year.
We were at all stages in constant contact with Kim and her carers. We were in court on the 31st July 2000 when an order was sought to extend Kim's period in care. Kim had absconded from care two days earlier. She wrote to the court to say she was in the company of a journalist. A warrant was issued for her arrest.
Kim was our treasure. She was loved by us, by her family and by her extended family and friends. We would ask now to be left in peace to mourn Kim. We will be issuing no further statements or making any further comments.